We did it. After a month and a half of harrowing ups and downs, last minute reversals and a heaping of compromise, we’re set to move. Who knew it would all end in tears?

Part 1: Getting ready
2200 pageviews, over 20 viewing requests, 3 offers in 1 week and 98.5% of asking. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

We live in divorce alley. It’s a predominantly upper middle-class, blue collar neighbourhood. Infidelities run rampant and intramural, extramarital affairs are hardly uncommon. We have the housewife who ditches her three kids (the oldest was six!) for the boy toy five houses down. The kids are going through the motions of playing in the front yard as she drives past from her out of town digs, eyes averted, for a midday booty call. Eventually the house goes up, priced to sell; both parties eager to just get on with their lives. We’ve had 3 fire sales on our street alone.

When it’s our turn to sell (motivated by a lack of highschool and the looming prospect of driving our kid repeatedly into Cambridge when she can’t land the one, part-time, Short Stop gig downtown) we were concerned about a depressed local market.

Twitter gets us started. While toying with the idea to sell we realize early that our house isn’t exactly, to put it delicately, presentable. We need professional help. Knowing Mike Shanks (@mikepgww) was in the business I figured he’d have a good staging reference and he came through in spades. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – Lynda was invaluable. I know those Home and Garden Network shows have you convinced that you can decorate and reno your home on your own. Don’t. The market is littered with barely concealed DIY disasters.

Within hours of tweeting Mike, we had Chelsey from PropertyGuys at our door to explain the process. The next thing we know we’re listing our home privately. Actually it takes a month before the sign officially goes up. Minor renos, lots of paint, new window coverings, new countertops in the kitchen and a last minute acquisition of the mother-in-laws furniture to finish off the back room and we’re ready for some glamor shots.

Chelsey’s back again and lovingly photographs our place. Those MLS listing shots lack panache, are completely devoid of verve! These suckers on the other hand pop! High dynamic range shots mean the inside as well as the outside are exposed beautifully and Chelsey shows off our home to great effect.

We also avail ourselves to an appraisal through PropertyGuys. Deborah is an independent appraiser with 20+ years in real estate. She comes out to the place, checks the neighbourhood and runs some numbers. We price it at the high end and set a new precedent for the neighbourhood – adulterers be damned! To be fair it is a hot market.

…Coming up. Getting to sold means going through the crazy.