housetweaking's Profile

@ ales.ag - According to several of the realtors we spoke with during the time our house was on the market, homes are on the market for an average of 8 months before selling in our area. So, 5 months felt pretty good to us...plus we actually had a signed contract within 4 months - just had to wait another month for closing.

In our experience, I truly feel that our home being on market for 4/5 months isn't why we didn't get full asking price {which we didn't expect to get anyways}. It was all the foreclosures selling in the area that brought our home's value down. Still, another good reason to sell as quickly as possible.

We got an offer {prior to the one we accepted} at 2.5 months on the market but it was for $20,000 less than what we ended up selling it for. We turned that offer down. In that regard, selling as quickly as possible {i.e. at 2.5 months} wouldn't have gotten us the most money for our home.

As an FSBO, you really have to do your research and keep a watchful eye on the market to know what's a good/bad price for your home. If it sounds intimidating or you don't feel comfortable with FSBO, then don't do it. Mine is not a ploy to oust all realtors and drag everyone to the FSBO plate, just telling the story of how we did sell by owner in case there's anyone out there who wants to give it a go.

I only do this mineral oil treatment every few months...not daily. We don't cut directly on our butcher block and it's also located on our prep island away from the sink. The wood will lose its luster and be more susceptible to moisture without regular treatments. If you're not into maintaining countertops every few months, then don't go the unsealed butcher block route. But if you're willing to save some $$ with a little elbow grease then it's great! I just love that it feels like a living, breathing surface in our kitchen and I actually enjoy pampering it. Everyone who comes to visit immediately smooths their hands over the butcher block. It's a crowd pleaser.

Hi, Tabitha!
Handy Hubby here. To answer your question, no the door does not pull out away from the wall. With 2 young, destructive boys we wanted to make sure that the door couldn't come off the track or bang against the wall. There's a guide mounted on the floor and a corresponding channel on the door where it rides. See the tutorials for more details. Hope that helps!

Name: the happy home
URL: http://thehappyhomeblog.com/

@ Caron - Yes! Painting the banister is on our to-do list!

Sacha - That green knight has been passed down through my hubby's family as a sort of joke...it was my father-in-law's then my hubby's and now my son's. Originally, it was black and silver. I spray painted it green and now it's not so much of a joke! We tell our boys that he guards their room at night.

@jennyp & @misscorrine - Ever since I did a report on Georgia O'Keefe in middle school, I've been in love with orchids. That's why a lot of the art prints {albeit mass-produced bc that's what I can afford} are of orchids.

@qtcrondesign - The powder room wall color is Valspar {Lowe's} Magic Spell #345-3 in eggshell.

@smellykelly - You're comment means so much to me! While I'd looooove to live in an older home with more innate character, we bought this home for schools, location and price...and low maintenance. Our first home was a 1950's cape cod with verrrry limited space and all kinds of problems {anywhere water could get in, it did}. After 7 years of major projects {think tearing down & rebuilding a leaning garage, installing a dewatering system, adding a bathroom to the basement...}, we were really ready for an 'easier' home, if that makes sense. Our budget didn't allow for an older & UPDATED home, so we chose this one. Who knows? Maybe when our kids are a little older and more independent, we'll have the time to devote to an older home and its needs.

@lesova - I stalked that dining light fixture {from West Elm} for months until it went on sale a year or two ago. I placed an order right away and, even then, it was backordered for several months but totally worth the wait.

@withtwopugs - The mudroom bench is from homedecoratorsoutlet.com - it was originally black with a black leather seat cushion {which wasn't exactly what I was looking for} but the size and price was right. I painted it white and covered the top with linen. The bench under the "You Make Me Happy..." sign was a thrift find full of water marks and scratches. I sanded it down and painted it white as well.