Bathrooms The First House

One Week to Listing

(We think.)

The house is being photographed for its listing on Tuesday morning, and we should be on the market June 6th or 7th.

The kids spent the night at my mom’s house so that we could get some uninterrupted work in. Brandon put a fresh coat of paint on the front porch this morning, and I’ve been painting the bathroom on the first floor.

Painting the Bathroom

We need to start packing some of our stuff away to ready the house for showing, and do a few things like tidy the bookshelves, wash the windows, and weed the garden. I’d like to paint the living room too, since I think it should not be pink (even though it IS a subtle shade of pink). Brandon and the realtor think that it isn’t necessary, but I’d feel better about our house’s chances of selling having done it.

I’m off to paint the exterior of the bathtub. I think we’ll change out the light fixture in the bedroom today too, and then pack a bit more.

This is all happening very quickly.

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  • Julie
    May 30, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    So fantastic that you were able to get some uninterrupted work in, it’s so hard to tackle those types of jobs while watching the kiddos. best of luck with the sale, fingers crossed it’s a quick one!

  • Ashlea Walter
    May 30, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    oh my, so much to do! You might have to figure out how to clone yourself. Good luck!

  • emily @ go haus go
    May 30, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    What’s your plan for the swiss cheese holes the Edison will leave behind? I shutter thinking about those holes if we ever have to move! I wish I would have stuck them up with adhesive!

  • Catherine
    May 30, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    Seriously, Nicole, I’m betting someone makes you an offer (or more) the first day. Don’t bother painting over the pink unless you absolutely have to!

  • kirsta
    May 30, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    such an exciting time! my husband + i are in the same situation {we just listed our house today}. i’ve enjoyed watching your story unfold. can’t wait to see your new place. best of luck to you!

  • Danielle
    May 30, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    In the past, I had showed my husband your home and ideas I had liked that you did. The pink did not seem to bother him at all. I think the furniture you have balances the pink and doesn’t make it too feminine at all. Not everyone is going to love it, but I can’t see it being something that will turn off people. Paint is the easiest and cheapest thing for people to change and make their own. I would leave it unless feed back is REAL bad, which I doubt it will be in that fab house!

  • Sarah
    May 30, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    Wow! Things are really moving along for you guys. I like the color you chose for the bathroom. I agree that you should paint the living room – go with your gut.
    Sarah

  • janet @ ordinary mom
    May 30, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    I did the same thing when we sold our last house. We had a subtle shade of blue in the diningroom I felt should be changed. The realtor and my husband agreed but I felt that there are certain colours that people just may not like even if they are subtle. I repainted. We sold to the 2nd people through.

    Good luck!! I hope you have as easy of a time.
    :)

  • emily
    May 30, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    is it weird that I think you should keep the pink! i think whoever comes into buy your house will either be able to look past it, or will love it. and either, way, it coordinates with everything else you have and gives the home personality…which should help it sell better, right?

  • Helen
    May 30, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Well the bathroom looks lovely. The idea of staging your house for sale still hasnt really caught on here in the UK despite various programmes but having worked in real estate in the past I know how important it is to de-personalise the house so potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Fingers crossed

  • Melissa
    May 30, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    I think the pink is fine!

  • justlemmon
    May 30, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    If you have an LLC and do not get w2’s, please check with your mortgage broker about getting a mortgage with your income. We had to get a private mortgage at the last minute 3 yrs ago. No one would give us a mortgage we had 20% down payment, had a mortgage for 11+ yrs w/Chase, excellent credit, over 200k in income and they only wanted w-2 income. Don’t want you to go through the headache we went through and we almost lost our new house.

  • MJ
    May 30, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    We’re already under contract for a house in Riverside, dangit! I love your place. I know it will sell in NO TIME.

  • Ally Cole
    May 30, 2013 at 2:06 pm

    I LOVE your house and I wouldn’t change too much more. I think the subtle pink reads as a neutral, and I’m sure that one of your followers/fans will end up buying it. I would if I lived in the same country! As pretty as your house is, it’s still well balanced for the male persuasion and let’s face it, it’s us females who ultimately fall in love with a house… Our husbands know this and want to make us happy. I wish you much luck in finding your NEXT dream home! Ally

  • chris
    May 30, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Good luck! I don’t know your housing market, but if it is priced correctly, I am sure it will sell quickly. It is beautiful!

  • Debbie
    May 30, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    I really doubt you have to repaint the living room. We had some pretty dark colors on the walls in every room. My husband wanted to paint them, and when it went in a day, I got to say “told you so.” (After freaking out, of course.) Cute houses go fast.

  • chris
    May 30, 2013 at 3:02 pm

    Your house is lovely, the pink is great, they can change it if they want to. Take a breath, it will sell quickly!

  • Nicole
    May 30, 2013 at 3:23 pm

    Good luck!! In my experience it’s best to bust your ass and get it sold in the first week. I’m so excited to hear about your next house purchase!

  • Jennifer
    May 30, 2013 at 3:56 pm

    I just sold my house (to the first couple that saw it) and I too had worried about some of my paint colors. My realtor told me don’t repaint. Really they are buying your look, they will fall in love with it as all of us have. The fact that your house tells a cohesive story will sell it. The couple that bought mine loved my green room that I was worried about and don’t intend to repaint any time soon. Don’t fret, you’ll be closing on it before you know it.

  • casacaudill
    May 30, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    I don’t know what your market is like in Chicago, but here in Oakland it’s an excellent time to be selling vintage bungalows. Yes, it’s a TON of work to get them ready, but the end result is so worth it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you guys.

  • casacaudill
    May 30, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    I’m so jealous of all of the people that have chill realtors who told them not to bother painting. Here in Oakland every house that goes on the market is the same shade of greige. Our realtor – and stager – seemed horrified that I wanted to keep the historically accurate craftsman palette.

  • Shelley
    May 30, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    I would take your realtor’s advice and focus on painting things that need painting because of wear. We sold our Oak Park house in 2 days. Now, that was several years ago, but the market never seems to be down all that much there. Good luck!

  • michelle
    May 30, 2013 at 4:37 pm

    Personally, I think the pink gives the house charm and character and wouldn’t change it!

  • maja
    May 30, 2013 at 5:37 pm

    We went through this process last year. We’d fixed up a home over a decade and then decided to move on to a new project. I’ve found it’s much harder to DIY the second time around with kids, but we’ve never looked back from our decision. Anyway, if you are still interested in moving to the SF Bay Area, the house next door is being readied for market. Just sayin’ :)

  • pixie
    May 30, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    yeah, don’t be too hard on yourself. we all love the pink, and who knows, we could be your target market! It wouldn’t put me off buying the hosue. let it be pink!

  • Margie
    May 30, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Don’t paint the pink living room. I bet one of your readers is eagerly waiting to buy your house just the way it is.

  • elle
    May 30, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    When it happens quickly like this – then it’s usually meant to be. The place you are moving to must be fate! I wouldn’t paint a thing. You house is delightful and shows attention to every detail. I’d buy your house myself just for the second floor landing and the basement! Let the new owners paint.

    Which reminds me… don’t you hate on “House Hunters” when they use room color as a deciding factor against the house? You can paint a room in day – what is the big deal??

  • Asia
    May 31, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    Although I LOVE your living room. I think you should paint it… a lot of people can’t look past the paint and visualize a room any other way. The people who are looking at your house are not going to all the the creative types that read design blogs. I would go with your gut and paint it neutral although it’s SO much work.

  • Sierra
    June 2, 2013 at 4:46 pm

    I’m so excited to be able to watch you transform another house!! Good luck with everything, so exciting!

  • Sweet Melissa
    June 2, 2013 at 9:16 pm

    Hi there! Good luck with putting your home on the market – I’m sure it will sell fast! I felt like it all happened so quickly with ors too. We spent many sleepless nights in the beginning prepping it for the market – painting, fixing, cleaning, and packing. We cleaned out every closet, cabinet, nook and crevice, and it worked! We sold our house in about three months which is pretty good for our market in VA. Now we are busy packing up to leave and I am so emotional! I am in denial. We have three boys and I think my oldest (he’s three and half) is sad too. Poor little guys are starting to cling teddy bears and toys which is very unlike them. I have written about it at http://www.sweetmelissasfragrancefactory.wordpress.com. Your blog is lovely and I’ll be coming back to read about your house adventures :) Good luck with everything!