Young House Love

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The Process Of Selling Our House By Owner & Buying A New House

To the tune of Katy Perry’s “Hot N’ Cold”… WE’VE BOUGHT AND WE’VE SOLD!

Well not really, but we’re headed in that direction. As of 5:57 pm yesterday evening we got word that the the last of our negotiations with some potential buyers of our house have gone through, so the contract on our home is officially “pending.”

Contract Sale Pending Sign

Which means that the contract that we’ve got in on our sweet new house (yes, we fiiiinally found one) should move right along as well (since it was contingent on selling ours first). In fact if all goes well, in a little over a month we’ll be moving from our current house directly into our new casa. Holy bananas. We’re geeking out over here (high fives, jazz hands, the charleston, my own spin on the Elaine-from-Seinfeld dance, the whole nine).

You’ll have to excuse us for not sharing anything sooner. We just wanted to be sure this new found casa could really be ours before getting all excited-slash-attached and making a big ol’ blog-nouncement about it (it would’ve been such a buzz kill if things fell through). But now that both contracts are well underway (inspections have even been completed) and are only dependent on the lending process going smoothly – which should be fine, fingers crossed – we’re ready to shout the good news from the rooftops internet.

We’ll fill you in with all the how-we-priced-&-marketed-&-sold-our-house-by-owner details soon, but first let’s chat about our new house. We’re on the brink of obsessed. Picture us doodling our new address with hearts all over our notebook. It’s a total throwback to how can’t-sleep-excited we were about our current house back in 2006. And we’re so grateful to have that feeling again – especially because we were beginning to doubt that we’d find anything that gave us butterflies. But the moment the front door swung open and we found ourselves standing in our future entryway (complete with some amazing built-ins) we just knew. Which means I broke out my creepy permasmile and probably scared the realtor. So much for a poker face.

Speaking of the realtor, we ended up using a buyer’s agent after calling her to see one of her listings and, well, one thing lead to another and she ended up showing us this other home that she felt would be a better fit. We were skeptical at first because it was one we had already nixed during a late night realtor.com hunt. Why did it get nixed? Get this. It had a carport.

Contract No Carports

I stupidly decided that we strongly prefer an enclosed garage (for storage reasons, bug control reasons, and so-people-don’t-know-when-we’re-gone reasons). So I ruled out all homes with carports. Little did I know that odd parameter was keeping us from finding The One. So we begrudgingly agreed to see the house anyway, and the rest as they say is history. Even more amazingly, the sellers of the house were offering a credit to cover the entire cost of enclosing the carport to create a garage. Is that proof that it was meant to be or what? So the lesson here is to widen those parameters because your perfect house might be right under your nose (and hiding behind a carport).

But enough jibber jabber, let’s meet the future Casa Petersik. Admittedly, it’s not a Jeff Lewis exterior (yet) but we probably wouldn’t buy it if it was already there. And yes, it’s more than a little reminiscent of our current home at first glance, but the inside is larger, more flexible, and it runneth over with potential.

Contract House Filtered

THE STATS:

  • Age: 1960’s
  • House size: around 2,500 square feet
  • Lot size: .75 acres (almost exactly the same size as our current lot, but it’s more square and less long & narrow)
  • Bedrooms: 4
  • Bathrooms: 3

THE PROS:

  • Gave us that “this is IT” feeling the moment we walked inside
  • Open & flexible floor plan that will accommodate a growing family and a home-based business
  • Three modestly sized bedrooms just like the ones we have now PLUS a large master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom & a walk-in closet
  • Great blank slate with tons of potential (we love all the projects that we see when we look around)
  • Large centrally located kitchen- which makes it perfect for family gatherings (we can’t wait to knock out some walls)
  • Amazing neighborhood near our family with great schools (it’s actually very close to where we live now)
  • It’s a ranch, just like our first love house (we were open to all house types, but 50 yr old ranches never fail to steal our hearts)

THE CONS:

  • A bit larger than we expected we’d like (but still very much within our budget)
  • The landscaping will be more of a challenge than our current home’s (but we do love a challenge)
  • There’s a carport (but oh happy day, we get a credit to transform it into a garage)
  • The lot is less private than our current lot (but we have plans to change that)
  • We can’t think of anything else (we’re blinded by love I tell you)

Oh, and I guess we can meet this one minus the artistic photoshop filter. Ooh. Ahh. So crisp and non-blurry.

Contract House Unfiltered

We’re so glad that we found our perfectly imperfect house. The potential is so thick you can cut it with a knife. So cross your fingers that all continues to go well for everyone’s loans and that we end up closing in mid December without any hiccups. Until then you’ll find us gushing about our future home, playing around with paint swatches, brainstorming all sorts of layout ideas, virtually shopping for every room, charging the batteries in John’s drill, organizing and paring things down, packing, and just generally being freakishly excited. We can’t wait to share the next chapter of our lives with you guys.

Comments

  2. Rebecca says

    I had a feeling you found “the one”, but the post the other day. I am so excited to see the inside and all the up coming projects!!!

    Reply

  3. Jason says

    Congrats!

    I had my reservations as you know – but it’s oh so heartening to know that you left an older home in such a state that a new buyer loved it as opposed to buying some new tract home and you are going to show love again to an older existing home. Even better that it’s a mid century ranch!

    Reply

  5. ame says

    congrats! this house looks like a perfect fit! can’t wait to see the inside. Hope all goes smoothly with the final steps of selling and buying!

    Reply

  8. Stephanie says

    I just had a thought of something, but maybe I missed the answer. When you first batted around the idea of moving I though you said you would have to wait for March b/c of financing and filing a tax return or something b/c of switching jobs and it would be like starting over. How did that get resolved? Thanks!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Stephanie,

      We actually learned that we could buy at any time, we just had to sell our house first since we couldn’t get approved to have two mortgages at any given time (although if we waited for next spring we might be approved to carry two morgages, it still wouldn’t be an ideal situation, nobody wants that stress, right?). Luckily we were able to sell our house and put an offer in on our dream house (which is contingent on the sale of our house, so we won’t have to have two mortgages at all). Wahoooooo!

      xo,
      s

  13. Callie says

    Congrats youngsters! That’s great! So excited for you guys!

    Are the new (almost) owners going to let you check back in over time? I’d love to see what they do to make the house their own!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Callie,

      The new owners aren’t blog readers (although we disclosed the blog to them to ensure that they don’t have any issues with photos of the house as it looked when we lived there being online) so only time will tell if they’ll invite us over to check things out after they move in. Either way we’re happy to respect their privacy since it’s going to be 100% theirs after closing. We can’t hold on to this house forever- even though we kind of want to.

      xo,
      s

  14. Letty says

    Oh my gosh!! I can’t believe this is all happening so quickly– woo hoo!! The house looks gorgeous– like your first love’s older sibling!– and I can’t wait to see it inside!! Congratulations!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Laura,

      Nope, neither of us knew who we were (we promise, we’re not that well known at all) but we did disclose the blog to both parties so they’d be in the know- just to ensure they were cool with it. Thankfully both families were!

      xo,
      s

  17. Elizabeth says

    Many many congrats and blessings to you guys in your new casa! Yay!!! Can’t wait to see all of your new ideas and projects!

    Reply

  18. Jessica @ The Southern Belle Baby says

    Congratulations, y’all!! I’m so excited for you guys, and I can’t wait to see all the exciting transformation that will, no doubt, be in store. Is it weird that I am pumped to see you guys get another cute brick ranch? ‘Cause I totally am. Best of luck with all of the contract/ closing fun!

    You totally have to feature the buyers of your house on here to see what they think about buying a “famous” house!

    Reply

  19. Tara says

    So happy for you guys! The home is beautiful! (My husband and I have a thing for 50-year old brick ranches also). Can’t wait to see what’s up your sleeve for picking paint colors and layout ideas as we hope to be closing on our first home mid-December as well. It’s a 60s brick ranch that needs a just a little love. Looking forward to some of your great DIY ideas! Congrats!

    Reply

  20. Jill says

    Hi Sherry,

    Best of luck in the new house. My fiance and I are currently house hunting and are visiting a house for the second time tomorrow. We are thinking of making an offer, but we don’t have a realtor representing us. How did it work for you with the buyer’s agent? Did you hire a broker to help you with the signing paperwork? We are first-time homebuyers and could use some advice! We follow your blog daily! Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Jill,

      A buyer’s agent will represent you for free! The seller actually gives them a commission for bringing someone in to make an offer so it’s usually a win-win situation to use one. Of course some private for-sale-by-owner sellers would prefer an offer come from someone without a buyer’s agent since they don’t want to dish out that fee, but anyone with a realtor selling their home (which is the vast majority) won’t usually care either way because they either give their realtor the whole commission for the sale or split it between their realtor and the buyer’s agent (so it’s the same amount of money going out either way). Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  21. April in CT says

    I am SO excited for you four!! I’m so glad to read that someones buying/selling process is actually working out well so far *knock on wood*. We had a horrific experience when selling our first house (buyers financing fell through the DAY our entire household was put on a moving truck & went bye-bye!), HAVING to move due to being military and not being able to find a new home. It was just a recipe for disaster that all happened right when the bottom fell out of the housing market. Needless to say, we’ll be renting until my hubby retires and we settle in one place. I can’t WAIT to own a home again though! I absolutely enjoy every post you guys do and glean ideas about our one-day forever home. :)

    Reply

  22. Megan says

    Congrats! Hope everything works out! Also, will the new buyers of your home know that the house they are going to be purchasing is a “Famous Home” in blogger world? If it was me purchasing and I knew that you were the sellers I would feel pretty awesome!!!!!!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Megan,

      Yup, they actually weren’t aware of our blog but we told them so it was all there and they didn’t feel like we were hiding anything. They seem to really love the house and they’re cool with our blog so all is well!

      xo,
      s

  23. hi-d says

    Oh happy day! I am really excited for you guys and can’t wait to see all of the cool renovations that you do in your new digs…

    “Geeking Out” Hahahaha…that’s so funny that you used this term. I thought I made this up. :)

    Reply

  26. Celise says

    Congrats! This is so awesome for you guys! We are going to sell our house soon after we build one to our liking. I can’t wait! It’s hard when you want a lot of things but you can’t afford everything that you want. :) I hope that you’ll post tips on moving and packing. I could use ’em!

    Reply

  31. Ana says

    It’s BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAUTIFUL!!!!! (Well, what I can see of it anyway.) :)

    Congratulations, Petersiks!

    I just got back from NVA visiting my best friend in Loudoun County and those red brick houses they have all over the place look so home-y. Can’t wait to see how you fabulous-ify the place. Is it December yet?!

    Reply

  35. Kristin says

    CONGRATS!!! That is sooo exciting!!! I cannot wait to see the inside and read about what you have planned! You guys should definitely draw up a floor plan! For me, at least, it’s much easier to visualize with a floor plan…anywho…AWESOME! YAY! WOOHOO!!!

    Reply

  37. julie says

    AHHHHH I am so excited!!! I feel like all of us readers are right there with you jumping up and down!!

    it looks like it has a full basement!

    Reply

  38. Kim says

    Congrats! So happy for you guys! I have to say that was a pretty big decision for happening so quick :) I am super jealous of the buyers of your current home, but so happy you guys are upgrading! Cannot wait to see the inside of this new beauty!

    Reply

  39. Rena says

    Congratulations! Now come decisions like: “Do we make Clara’s room totally different or go with the same colors?” “Do we move accessories around to use them in different rooms?” I’ve learned to be open as to where things go. One move found a large picture that hung over our sofa hanging over a sunkin tub in the master bath. Have fun.

    Reply

  40. Sarah says

    Congrats, John and Sherry! That was fast! Glad everything seems to be working out so well for you. Can’t wait to hear about all the new projects and ideas you’ll be implementing in your new space. I had a feeling this announcement was coming, especially with such a specific living room mood board yesterday. :) Congrats again!

    Reply

  43. Nikki says

    Congrats! I remember not sleeping for nights after we closed on our little house! We’re smack in the middle of constant renovations, and still dreaming of the coming reno’s and redecorating thats to come. Totally fun and exhausing all at once – enjoy every minute of it!

    Reply

  44. Cate says

    Congrats!! Now if our house would just sell so fast, I would be a happy camper too! The market here is terrible, so we are just waiting on the perfect buyer. We are in the top two for a recent visitor, so crossing our fingers. Can’t wait to see the inside once you get moved in and of course follow the progress as you make it yours.

    Reply

  45. Megan says

    Sorry, after I posted I realized there were others who had just asked the same question! I can’t wait to see all your NEW home renovations!!!! Congrats again!

    Reply

  46. Katie V. says

    Wow, it seems like the whole process went really fast! Congratulations!! I cannot wait to see the interior! I hope you have time to decorate for Christmas!

    Reply

  47. Jessica says

    I’m am soo excited for you guys!!! I love your blog! You’re the reason why I jumped in to do my own! :) And you write so well, it almost feels like I’m house hunting and moving! :) If I didn’t live on the other side of the country, I’d be offering to ferry your stuff from the old place to the new!!! :) Now I have to go do something diy to my house, where’s the paint!?!

    Reply

  49. Erin C. says

    Yay! I am so excited for you guys and can’t wait to see the new house. I hope everything goes well with closing and your move.

    Reply

  50. Rabbit says

    CONGRATS!!!! That house looks great–can’t wait to hear/see more of it. Best of luck over the next few weeks.

    I think it was smart to let the buyers know about the blog…not only for safety reasons (you never know who has figured out where this house is and would want to stop by), but especially because they will know exactly when you’ve done what, what color each room is painted, etc. That’s what I wish I had–a little “guide” to the house. Even after a year, we’re still finding things that we’d love to have more answers to. :)

    Reply

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