It took longer than expected, but we've finally listed our house on the market! Lost count of how many loads went to Salvation Army, how much was lugged to garbage. But the house actually feels lighter, and we now know exactly what's where. Purging is good not only in anticipation of fulltime rving, but for the soul.
Yet this is the time I dread -- tiptoeing on the carpet edges, eating over the sink, constant vigilance toward dust and any item not in its staged place... and just generally pretending that we don't live here. Waiting for the showing service to call, driving around while strangers roam the property, the eventual haggling and inspections -- it's all such a distasteful game (one that we don't want to play again for many years). And yet the prize at the end, what we've dreamed of for decades, will surely be worth it!
Have a good week, everyone.
Jo And Craig said
06:42 AM May 21, 2014
I couldn't have said it better myself. Good luck with everything and keep us updated on your progress!
cherylbrv said
06:47 AM May 21, 2014
Congratulations and may the mojo of the Class of 2014 for a quick sale continue with you!
I've just been there myself so I know the feeling all too well. I had to keep reminding myself it was all for a good cause and keep picturing life in the RV. Also kept telling myself how living like that was good practice to keep the RV clutter free! For example, we always kept our appliances on the kitchen counters and dish washing stuff out near the sink, but during staging we weren't allowed to have anything at all anywhere (plus, if we hid things inside drawers and closets, those had to be very neat and organized). I figured if we could live like that for a few weeks, surely we can do it ongoing (of course, my instinct and experience says "yeah, right!" That'll last 1 day if that long!!!)
cheryls-other-half said
04:19 PM May 21, 2014
cherylbrv wrote:
Congratulations and may the mojo of the Class of 2014 for a quick sale continue with you!
... snip...good practice to keep the RV clutter free! ... snip... For example, we always kept our appliances on the kitchen counters and dish washing stuff out near the sink, but during staging we weren't allowed to have anything at all anywhere (plus, if we hid things inside drawers and closets, those had to be very neat and organized). I figured if we could live like that for a few weeks, surely we can do it ongoing (of course, my instinct and experience says "yeah, right!" That'll last 1 day if that long!!!)
Talking about CLUTTER-Free.
We just spent 3 hrs cleaning (Yet AGAIN) out our garage.
In case you missed it, while getting ready to stage the house this past winter, we actually FILLED two 40 foot dumpsters with trash, not to mention all the old and used electronics we had someone pick up to recycle.
The bottom line is that we had the ability to actually have space in the garage for the first time in 20+ years in this house.
Today, we just concentrated on getting rid of one side of the things we postponed till now. Especially a lot of my tools. (I do outside computer related engineering stuff (Field Engineer)...
Wow, this is VERY hard. de-cluttering is difficult, but CAN be done. Good luck!
alternativeview said
11:11 PM May 21, 2014
Jo And Craig wrote:
I couldn't have said it better myself. Good luck with everything and keep us updated on your progress!
Thanks so much. We'll accept all luck sent our way. Yesterday - broker open house. Today - first showing. Woot-woot!
alternativeview said
11:26 PM May 21, 2014
cherylbrv wrote:
Congratulations and may the mojo of the Class of 2014 for a quick sale continue with you!
I've just been there myself so I know the feeling all too well. I had to keep reminding myself it was all for a good cause and keep picturing life in the RV. Also kept telling myself how living like that was good practice to keep the RV clutter free! For example, we always kept our appliances on the kitchen counters and dish washing stuff out near the sink, but during staging we weren't allowed to have anything at all anywhere (plus, if we hid things inside drawers and closets, those had to be very neat and organized). I figured if we could live like that for a few weeks, surely we can do it ongoing (of course, my instinct and experience says "yeah, right!" That'll last 1 day if that long!!!)
I love a clean, decluttered look, so most of our "cool stuff to donate" and "not-so-cool stuff to pitch" was in the lower level; and fortunately, we have a dedicated room just for storage. Just didn't realize how MUCH stuff was packed in how MANY crates -- which we've been carting around with us from city to city over the years. And while the closets, cabinets, and drawers were already tidy, it felt smart to take a hard look at what we were keeping for that elusive "just in case," and weed out old or never-used items. Like many on rv-dreams, we've had decades of living to store and haul around, feeling that disposing of our accumulation was somehow an insult to the previous generation of waste-not, want-not folks. But I too kept going, thinking of how lovely my rv will be!
alternativeview said
11:44 PM May 21, 2014
cheryls-other-half wrote:
Talking about CLUTTER-Free. ... We just spent 3 hrs cleaning (Yet AGAIN) out our garage. In case you missed it, while getting ready to stage the house this past winter, we actually FILLED two 40 foot dumpsters with trash, not to mention all the old and used electronics we had someone pick up to recycle. ... The bottom line is that we had the ability to actually have space in the garage for the first time in 20+ years in this house. ... Today, we just concentrated on getting rid of one side of the things we postponed till now. Especially a lot of my tools. (I do outside computer related engineering stuff (Field Engineer)... ... Wow, this is VERY hard. de-cluttering is difficult, but CAN be done. Good luck!
Many thanks for the wishes. Actually, I feel better reading your post, as we definitely did not need dumpsters! Of course, we also haven't touched those items with the most sentimental value, nor our Christmas crates. Our (grown) children also have some storage here, but live too far away to just "come and get it." The kitchen will be tough for me; it's pared down, but not enough for an rv. I wonder what I'll do with my heavy pans, casseroles, and plethora of knives?
Congrats on your decluttering thus far. It must be truly difficult to part with your tools. They are like a creative extension of your mind and hands. Sometimes we find ourselves mulling over an item, debating... What makes it easier to let it go, at least for me, is giving it to a friend or family member, rather than a donation site, especially knowing that person will think of me when using it. :) Keep up the good work and we will, too!
Jo and Ben said
05:41 PM May 22, 2014
Congrats on getting the house listed! Sending along some Class of '14 mojo :)
Lucky Mike said
07:49 PM May 22, 2014
1 MoJo..... H a Pp Y Dance Com'in Up !!!
Terry and Jo said
08:02 PM May 22, 2014
alternativeview wrote:
Many thanks for the wishes. Actually, I feel better reading your post, as we definitely did not need dumpsters! Of course, we also haven't touched those items with the most sentimental value, nor our Christmas crates. Our (grown) children also have some storage here, but live too far away to just "come and get it." The kitchen will be tough for me; it's pared down, but not enough for an rv. I wonder what I'll do with my heavy pans, casseroles, and plethora of knives?
Congrats on your decluttering thus far. It must be truly difficult to part with your tools. They are like a creative extension of your mind and hands. Sometimes we find ourselves mulling over an item, debating... What makes it easier to let it go, at least for me, is giving it to a friend or family member, rather than a donation site, especially knowing that person will think of me when using it. :) Keep up the good work and we will, too!
As far as cookware and knives, how many big meals will you be preparing, and how many hands do you have to handle knives at one time?
I went through all the tools in my garage and looked at many and decided that I hadn't used some of those in years and maybe even decades. That made it easier to get rid of them. Also, the "specialty" tools that were needed for the house wouldn't be needed in the RV, so those were easy to get give away or sell. At the last minute, the buyers of our home got what was left with the instructions to keep them or sell them and keep the money.
Terry
RickandJanice said
08:32 PM May 22, 2014
cherylbrv wrote:
I've just been there myself so I know the feeling all too well. I had to keep reminding myself it was all for a good cause and keep picturing life in the RV. Also kept telling myself how living like that was good practice to keep the RV clutter free! For example, we always kept our appliances on the kitchen counters and dish washing stuff out near the sink, but during staging we weren't allowed to have anything at all anywhere (plus, if we hid things inside drawers and closets, those had to be very neat and organized). I figured if we could live like that for a few weeks, surely we can do it ongoing (of course, my instinct and experience says "yeah, right!" That'll last 1 day if that long!!!)
You will be surprised just how clutter free you can keep an RV since the space is so much less than the S&B. We also find it much easier since the layout is much more efficient in a RV than in a house . Now that we are full time, we actually find ourselves constantly keeping things put away and picked up because if we do not, it gets on both of our nerves. I even keep my tools more organized and clean since I have to put them away when finished instead of leaving them laying on the work bench.
alternativeview said
09:19 PM May 23, 2014
Jo and Ben wrote:
Congrats on getting the house listed! Sending along some Class of '14 mojo :)
Thanks, Jo and Ben! Showing #2 was this morning. Feedback so far is respectable, but noncommittal.
alternativeview said
09:20 PM May 23, 2014
Lucky Mike wrote:
1 MoJo..... H a Pp Y Dance Com'in Up !!!
Sure hope we can garner the energy to dance after all the house hoopla!
alternativeview said
09:41 PM May 23, 2014
Terry and Jo wrote:
As far as cookware and knives, how many big meals will you be preparing, and how many hands do you have to handle knives at one time?
I went through all the tools in my garage and looked at many and decided that I hadn't used some of those in years and maybe even decades. That made it easier to get rid of them. Also, the "specialty" tools that were needed for the house wouldn't be needed in the RV, so those were easy to get give away or sell. At the last minute, the buyers of our home got what was left with the instructions to keep them or sell them and keep the money.
Terry
Terry, you're right, of course. When thinking logically, I know that 2 pots, 1 skillet, and 3 knives will work beautifully. It's the emotional aspect of letting go of some things for which we've worked hard, paid good money, used and enjoyed, and planned to keep many more years, maybe our lifetime. The emotional conclusion is that it was all for naught, even though the realistic conclusion is that we've simply entered a new phase in which "stuff" matters so much less than the people in our lives and the opportunity for unencumbered travel and adventure. Now, if only logic and emotion could coexist more peaceably!
Joe_Camper said
08:53 AM May 24, 2014
alternativeview wrote: It's the emotional aspect of letting go of some things for which we've worked hard, paid good money, used and enjoyed, and planned to keep many more years, maybe our lifetime.
That's the part I have trouble with..."paid good money!" I guess being somewhat of a tightwad, I hate to get rid of stuff I did pay a lot for. I always believed in buying the best, so it's painful at garage sales to see how little people will pay for your "best" stuff. That's why it is actually easier for me to donate it than sell it.
alternativeview said
10:23 AM May 24, 2014
Joe_Camper wrote:
That's the part I have trouble with..."paid good money!" I guess being somewhat of a tightwad, I hate to get rid of stuff I did pay a lot for. I always believed in buying the best, so it's painful at garage sales to see how little people will pay for your "best" stuff. That's why it is actually easier for me to donate it than sell it.
_________
Our feelings exactly. In addition, being raised by Depression-era parents and the "waste not, want not" ethic, let's throw some guilt on top of the emotion/logic flux! There is, though, some comfort in reading of others who have experienced the same pangs. Based on those insights, I know we'll get over ourselves (!), give treasured or important or valuable items to friends/family who will appreciate and use them, and emerge just fine and ready for the road!
alternativeview said
07:53 PM Jun 2, 2014
We have a winner! We have a signed offer on our house, just two weeks after listing. So excited! If all goes smoothly, we'll close in 4-6 weeks. Then, it will be time to pull the trigger on the RV and TV. In the meantime, there's a ton of home stuff to keep our days busy - and lots of RV research to keep our evenings busy, too. LOVE reading all the back-topics here on rv-dreams. THANKS for all the support and advice. I'm sure I'll be chiming in soon with a plethora of questions.
WestWardHo said
05:03 AM Jun 3, 2014
Congratulations! Love these stories of quick sales for fellow Dreamers. Hope you sail through the rest of the process!
Sherry
Joe_Camper said
05:13 AM Jun 3, 2014
Congrats! Hope all goes smoothly with the sale and transition. Our S&B should be on the market within 2 weeks!
LandL Partners said
12:53 PM Jun 3, 2014
Congrats on the sale!!
DebbieM said
01:01 PM Jun 3, 2014
Congrats! So excited for you!!
jrzygrl64 said
04:22 AM Jun 4, 2014
Congrats!
Now can mojo PLEASE come to PA? We've been listed 57 days and I think it skipped us!
Kelly
p.s. after I'm done with it, I will send it on to Trace and Lee in NH
-- Edited by jrzygrl64 on Wednesday 4th of June 2014 04:24:38 AM
alternativeview said
08:13 PM Jun 5, 2014
"Congratulations! Love these stories of quick sales for fellow Dreamers. Hope you sail through the rest of the process!
Sherry"
Thanks so much! Everyone is confident thus far!
-- Edited by alternativeview on Thursday 5th of June 2014 08:16:29 PM
alternativeview said
08:18 PM Jun 5, 2014
Joe_Camper wrote:
Congrats! Hope all goes smoothly with the sale and transition. Our S&B should be on the market within 2 weeks!
We wish you quick success! Apparently our area is a seller's market right now; we were amazed with the number of showings, interest, and offer in such a short time span.
alternativeview said
08:19 PM Jun 5, 2014
LandL Partners wrote:
Congrats on the sale!!
Thanks much!
alternativeview said
08:20 PM Jun 5, 2014
DebbieM wrote:
Congrats! So excited for you!!
Hope to be heading out fulltime this summer as well!
alternativeview said
08:27 PM Jun 5, 2014
jrzygrl64 wrote:
Congrats!
Now can mojo PLEASE come to PA? We've been listed 57 days and I think it skipped us!
Kelly
p.s. after I'm done with it, I will send it on to Trace and Lee in NH
-- Edited by jrzygrl64 on Wednesday 4th of June 2014 04:24:38 AM
Sending it on to PA and NH. Over the years, our various homes received offers in 11 days; 2 weeks; 3.5 months; 5 months; and 18 months. Yours will sell, too. Your buyer just hasn't found his/her way to it yet.
Jimmy and Janis said
08:48 PM Jun 5, 2014
Congratulations !!! Hope all goes smooth til the end.
alternativeview said
08:51 PM Jun 5, 2014
Jimmy and Janis wrote:
Congratulations !!! Hope all goes smooth til the end.
It took longer than expected, but we've finally listed our house on the market! Lost count of how many loads went to Salvation Army, how much was lugged to garbage. But the house actually feels lighter, and we now know exactly what's where. Purging is good not only in anticipation of fulltime rving, but for the soul.
Yet this is the time I dread -- tiptoeing on the carpet edges, eating over the sink, constant vigilance toward dust and any item not in its staged place... and just generally pretending that we don't live here. Waiting for the showing service to call, driving around while strangers roam the property, the eventual haggling and inspections -- it's all such a distasteful game (one that we don't want to play again for many years). And yet the prize at the end, what we've dreamed of for decades, will surely be worth it!
Have a good week, everyone.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Good luck with everything and keep us updated on your progress!
I've just been there myself so I know the feeling all too well. I had to keep reminding myself it was all for a good cause and keep picturing life in the RV. Also kept telling myself how living like that was good practice to keep the RV clutter free! For example, we always kept our appliances on the kitchen counters and dish washing stuff out near the sink, but during staging we weren't allowed to have anything at all anywhere (plus, if we hid things inside drawers and closets, those had to be very neat and organized). I figured if we could live like that for a few weeks, surely we can do it ongoing (of course, my instinct and experience says "yeah, right!" That'll last 1 day if that long!!!)
Talking about CLUTTER-Free.
We just spent 3 hrs cleaning (Yet AGAIN) out our garage.
Thanks so much. We'll accept all luck sent our way. Yesterday - broker open house. Today - first showing. Woot-woot!
I love a clean, decluttered look, so most of our "cool stuff to donate" and "not-so-cool stuff to pitch" was in the lower level; and fortunately, we have a dedicated room just for storage. Just didn't realize how MUCH stuff was packed in how MANY crates -- which we've been carting around with us from city to city over the years. And while the closets, cabinets, and drawers were already tidy, it felt smart to take a hard look at what we were keeping for that elusive "just in case," and weed out old or never-used items. Like many on rv-dreams, we've had decades of living to store and haul around, feeling that disposing of our accumulation was somehow an insult to the previous generation of waste-not, want-not folks. But I too kept going, thinking of how lovely my rv will be!
Many thanks for the wishes. Actually, I feel better reading your post, as we definitely did not need dumpsters! Of course, we also haven't touched those items with the most sentimental value, nor our Christmas crates. Our (grown) children also have some storage here, but live too far away to just "come and get it." The kitchen will be tough for me; it's pared down, but not enough for an rv. I wonder what I'll do with my heavy pans, casseroles, and plethora of knives?
Congrats on your decluttering thus far. It must be truly difficult to part with your tools. They are like a creative extension of your mind and hands. Sometimes we find ourselves mulling over an item, debating... What makes it easier to let it go, at least for me, is giving it to a friend or family member, rather than a donation site, especially knowing that person will think of me when using it. :) Keep up the good work and we will, too!
1 MoJo.....
H a Pp Y Dance Com'in Up !!!
As far as cookware and knives, how many big meals will you be preparing, and how many hands do you have to handle knives at one time?
I went through all the tools in my garage and looked at many and decided that I hadn't used some of those in years and maybe even decades. That made it easier to get rid of them. Also, the "specialty" tools that were needed for the house wouldn't be needed in the RV, so those were easy to get give away or sell. At the last minute, the buyers of our home got what was left with the instructions to keep them or sell them and keep the money.
Terry
You will be surprised just how clutter free you can keep an RV since the space is so much less than the S&B. We also find it much easier since the layout is much more efficient in a RV than in a house . Now that we are full time, we actually find ourselves constantly keeping things put away and picked up because if we do not, it gets on both of our nerves. I even keep my tools more organized and clean since I have to put them away when finished instead of leaving them laying on the work bench.
Thanks, Jo and Ben! Showing #2 was this morning. Feedback so far is respectable, but noncommittal.
Sure hope we can garner the energy to dance after all the house hoopla!
Terry, you're right, of course. When thinking logically, I know that 2 pots, 1 skillet, and 3 knives will work beautifully. It's the emotional aspect of letting go of some things for which we've worked hard, paid good money, used and enjoyed, and planned to keep many more years, maybe our lifetime. The emotional conclusion is that it was all for naught, even though the realistic conclusion is that we've simply entered a new phase in which "stuff" matters so much less than the people in our lives and the opportunity for unencumbered travel and adventure. Now, if only logic and emotion could coexist more peaceably!
That's the part I have trouble with..."paid good money!" I guess being somewhat of a tightwad, I hate to get rid of stuff I did pay a lot for. I always believed in buying the best, so it's painful at garage sales to see how little people will pay for your "best" stuff. That's why it is actually easier for me to donate it than sell it.
We have a winner! We have a signed offer on our house, just two weeks after listing. So excited! If all goes smoothly, we'll close in 4-6 weeks. Then, it will be time to pull the trigger on the RV and TV. In the meantime, there's a ton of home stuff to keep our days busy - and lots of RV research to keep our evenings busy, too. LOVE reading all the back-topics here on rv-dreams. THANKS for all the support and advice. I'm sure I'll be chiming in soon with a plethora of questions.
Sherry
Congrats! So excited for you!!
Congrats!
Now can mojo PLEASE come to PA? We've been listed 57 days and I think it skipped us!
Kelly
p.s. after I'm done with it, I will send it on to Trace and Lee in NH
-- Edited by jrzygrl64 on Wednesday 4th of June 2014 04:24:38 AM
"Congratulations! Love these stories of quick sales for fellow Dreamers. Hope you sail through the rest of the process!
Sherry"
Thanks so much! Everyone is confident thus far!
-- Edited by alternativeview on Thursday 5th of June 2014 08:16:29 PM
We wish you quick success! Apparently our area is a seller's market right now; we were amazed with the number of showings, interest, and offer in such a short time span.
Thanks much!
Hope to be heading out fulltime this summer as well!
Sending it on to PA and NH. Over the years, our various homes received offers in 11 days; 2 weeks; 3.5 months; 5 months; and 18 months. Yours will sell, too. Your buyer just hasn't found his/her way to it yet.
Many thanks -- and congrats to you as well!