| Biographical Non-Fiction posted January 31, 2021 | Chapters: |
...96 97 -98- 99... 
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Selling a house isn't so easy.
A chapter in the book Remembering Yesterday
How Do We Go About This Move?
by BethShelby
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For new readers, who may not have read my author notes, this is written in a conversational way as I talk to my deceased husband. When I refer to someone just as "you" this means I am addressing my husband, Evan.
The trip to Marietta was long but uneventful. We listened to music, sang some, and talked so it wasn’t too boring. It was a beautiful early Spring day. We found the Life Chiropractic College. Don was impressed and decided he definitely wanted to go there. There were some science and math classes he would need to take at a regular college which were required before he could enroll.
Marietta was too close to Atlanta for us to want to live there, but we did pick up some real estate books to see what was available. We checked out a boarding school which we thought we might consider for Connie, and then we drove to Chattanooga.
It was good to see Carol, and we were glad she wasn’t scheduled to work that night. The next morning before we left, we checked out schools in the Chattanooga area for both Don and Connie and also picked up more real estate books to see how prices compared there. “You know we really can’t buy anywhere until we sell our house in Metairie,” I observed.
“That’s true.” you agreed, “but we do need to know which way we’re heading. Personally, I vote for Chattanooga. It is beautiful here and the prices aren’t that bad. Don may have to rent something in Marietta. There are all kinds of apartments around the campus. Chattanooga is close enough that he could be home every weekend. There are colleges and universities here, where he could get the classes before he enrolls. I like the church schools they have here for Connie. They have a middle school and a high school.”
“Sounds like a winning solution to me. Let’s do it.” Don said.
I was happy with that idea. It meant we didn’t have to move back to Mississippi. We’d lived in Metairie for sixteen years and I’d miss it, but I always knew we would leave after you retired. We would be a couple of hours further away from my parents, but we could handle that.
That still left the problem of the farm property. I knew that was going to be sticky. I wondered if you were ready to consider selling it. If not maybe we could rent out the house. We could deal with that later. The farm was always something that was hard for us to talk about. It’s never easy to let go of a dream. The kids sometimes accused me of being a dream killer.
When we got back home, we debated how we wanted to go about marketing our house. First we needed to look at houses similar to ours to decide on an asking price. We had bought the house from the owner, and I was in favor of selling it the same way to avoid the Realtor fees. We had paid off the mortgage when you got your money from Chevron, and with you not working we didn’t need another one.
What we could spend to buy in Chattanooga, would depend on what we could get for our home. We needed to pay cash. You had taken a lump sum when you retired, which meant we would have to take our monthly expenses from that until I could find a job. That money would have to last until you were old enough to draw Social Security, and start taking monthly checks from your IRA.
We decided to wait about putting the house on the market until the school term was up. Disrupting Connie’s life at this point didn’t seem like a smart idea. The fact that she knew we were talking about moving caused her to tell people we were. Things hadn't been the same with her best friend since Lesley had turned some of her classmates against her. This was probably the reason she didn't seem as unhappy about the idea of moving as we feared she would be.
The news got around to our friends and neighbors that we were moving. I had always had a problem saying no if asked to head up a committee or do something involving church or Pathfinders, but now I did use the excuse that we might be moving.
In June, Connie turned fourteen. We were already having teen problems, and we realized things probably wouldn't improve until she got older. Most teens start to give their parents problems. I wasn’t a terrible teen, but I know I created my own share of drama. This daughter had started early, so we weren’t sure what we were in for. We hoped Chattanooga would be a better place for her to grow up than in the New Orleans area.
Later that summer, we did put our house on the market ‘for sale by owner.’ We put a sign out front and listed it for a month in the newspaper. We got a few calls and several people came and looked, but most of the calls were from local agents wanting to list it. One Realtor was very persistent, and he assured us that there was no way we would be able to sell the house without his superior sales ability. He said, “Let me list it for three months, and I guarantee it will be sold.” After our month-long-ad expired, we agree to sign a three-month listing with him.
When we bought the house sixteen years earlier, we’d only paid $30,O00. Real estate had gone up considerably, so we were asking $89,000. Over the three months, it was shown about four times. Only one man made an offer, and it was for $72,000. We countered, but he claimed he couldn’t pay more than $75,000. Our agent said we should take it, because it wouldn’t sell for more than that. By the time we paid his commission, it wasn’t enough so we told him “No way!” He got very belligerent and said “You’ll be sorry. That’s all you’re going to get for this house. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Our contract with him expired and we chose not to re-list with him.
When Christi learned we were planning to buy in Chattanooga, she was excited and wanted to go early because she had friends there. She called Carol and asked if she could live with her for a while until we came up. She also had a friend that she thought she could move in with, if that didn't work out.
Carol told her she could stay until Glen came back, so she got a ride to Chattanooga and moved in with Carol. Connie was happy to have the room to herself since they were always squabbling over something. You were happy because you didn't like Carol living alone.
Christi soon met a guy at church and started going out with him. One night, she had a date to go to a very expensive restaurant. She bought a new dress for the occasion. It was made of some thin synthetic material, but was slightly wrinkled from the shopping bag.
As usual, Christi was running late and panicking. She started begging Carol to press it for her. Christi is someone who will never let up until she gets her way, so Carol agreed. The problem was Carol was used to pressing her cotton uniforms and the iron was too hot and burned a hole in the material.
From what we heard later, a fight ensued of epic proportions. Christi was forced to wear an older dress and Carol left the apartment until she could cool off. I don't think she was with Carol that long. The next thing we knew, Christi had moved in with a friend.
For new readers, who may not have read my author notes, this is written in a conversational way as I talk to my deceased husband. When I refer to someone just as "you" this means I am addressing my husband, Evan.
The trip to Marietta was long but uneventful. We listened to music, sang some, and talked so it wasn’t too boring. It was a beautiful early Spring day. We found the Life Chiropractic College. Don was impressed and decided he definitely wanted to go there. There were some science and math classes he would need to take at a regular college which were required before he could enroll.
Marietta was too close to Atlanta for us to want to live there, but we did pick up some real estate books to see what was available. We checked out a boarding school which we thought we might consider for Connie, and then we drove to Chattanooga.
It was good to see Carol, and we were glad she wasn’t scheduled to work that night. The next morning before we left, we checked out schools in the Chattanooga area for both Don and Connie and also picked up more real estate books to see how prices compared there. “You know we really can’t buy anywhere until we sell our house in Metairie,” I observed.
“That’s true.” you agreed, “but we do need to know which way we’re heading. Personally, I vote for Chattanooga. It is beautiful here and the prices aren’t that bad. Don may have to rent something in Marietta. There are all kinds of apartments around the campus. Chattanooga is close enough that he could be home every weekend. There are colleges and universities here, where he could get the classes before he enrolls. I like the church schools they have here for Connie. They have a middle school and a high school.”
“Sounds like a winning solution to me. Let’s do it.” Don said.
I was happy with that idea. It meant we didn’t have to move back to Mississippi. We’d lived in Metairie for sixteen years and I’d miss it, but I always knew we would leave after you retired. We would be a couple of hours further away from my parents, but we could handle that.
That still left the problem of the farm property. I knew that was going to be sticky. I wondered if you were ready to consider selling it. If not maybe we could rent out the house. We could deal with that later. The farm was always something that was hard for us to talk about. It’s never easy to let go of a dream. The kids sometimes accused me of being a dream killer.
When we got back home, we debated how we wanted to go about marketing our house. First we needed to look at houses similar to ours to decide on an asking price. We had bought the house from the owner, and I was in favor of selling it the same way to avoid the Realtor fees. We had paid off the mortgage when you got your money from Chevron, and with you not working we didn’t need another one.
What we could spend to buy in Chattanooga, would depend on what we could get for our home. We needed to pay cash. You had taken a lump sum when you retired, which meant we would have to take our monthly expenses from that until I could find a job. That money would have to last until you were old enough to draw Social Security, and start taking monthly checks from your IRA.
We decided to wait about putting the house on the market until the school term was up. Disrupting Connie’s life at this point didn’t seem like a smart idea. The fact that she knew we were talking about moving caused her to tell people we were. Things hadn't been the same with her best friend since Lesley had turned some of her classmates against her. This was probably the reason she didn't seem as unhappy about the idea of moving as we feared she would be.
The news got around to our friends and neighbors that we were moving. I had always had a problem saying no if asked to head up a committee or do something involving church or Pathfinders, but now I did use the excuse that we might be moving.
In June, Connie turned fourteen. We were already having teen problems, and we realized things probably wouldn't improve until she got older. Most teens start to give their parents problems. I wasn’t a terrible teen, but I know I created my own share of drama. This daughter had started early, so we weren’t sure what we were in for. We hoped Chattanooga would be a better place for her to grow up than in the New Orleans area.
Later that summer, we did put our house on the market ‘for sale by owner.’ We put a sign out front and listed it for a month in the newspaper. We got a few calls and several people came and looked, but most of the calls were from local agents wanting to list it. One Realtor was very persistent, and he assured us that there was no way we would be able to sell the house without his superior sales ability. He said, “Let me list it for three months, and I guarantee it will be sold.” After our month-long-ad expired, we agree to sign a three-month listing with him.
When we bought the house sixteen years earlier, we’d only paid $30,O00. Real estate had gone up considerably, so we were asking $89,000. Over the three months, it was shown about four times. Only one man made an offer, and it was for $72,000. We countered, but he claimed he couldn’t pay more than $75,000. Our agent said we should take it, because it wouldn’t sell for more than that. By the time we paid his commission, it wasn’t enough so we told him “No way!” He got very belligerent and said “You’ll be sorry. That’s all you’re going to get for this house. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Our contract with him expired and we chose not to re-list with him.
When Christi learned we were planning to buy in Chattanooga, she was excited and wanted to go early because she had friends there. She called Carol and asked if she could live with her for a while until we came up. She also had a friend that she thought she could move in with, if that didn't work out.
Carol told her she could stay until Glen came back, so she got a ride to Chattanooga and moved in with Carol. Connie was happy to have the room to herself since they were always squabbling over something. You were happy because you didn't like Carol living alone.
Christi soon met a guy at church and started going out with him. One night, she had a date to go to a very expensive restaurant. She bought a new dress for the occasion. It was made of some thin synthetic material, but was slightly wrinkled from the shopping bag.
As usual, Christi was running late and panicking. She started begging Carol to press it for her. Christi is someone who will never let up until she gets her way, so Carol agreed. The problem was Carol was used to pressing her cotton uniforms and the iron was too hot and burned a hole in the material.
From what we heard later, a fight ensued of epic proportions. Christi was forced to wear an older dress and Carol left the apartment until she could cool off. I don't think she was with Carol that long. The next thing we knew, Christi had moved in with a friend.
The trip to Marietta was long but uneventful. We listened to music, sang some, and talked so it wasn’t too boring. It was a beautiful early Spring day. We found the Life Chiropractic College. Don was impressed and decided he definitely wanted to go there. There were some science and math classes he would need to take at a regular college which were required before he could enroll.
Marietta was too close to Atlanta for us to want to live there, but we did pick up some real estate books to see what was available. We checked out a boarding school which we thought we might consider for Connie, and then we drove to Chattanooga.
It was good to see Carol, and we were glad she wasn’t scheduled to work that night. The next morning before we left, we checked out schools in the Chattanooga area for both Don and Connie and also picked up more real estate books to see how prices compared there. “You know we really can’t buy anywhere until we sell our house in Metairie,” I observed.
“That’s true.” you agreed, “but we do need to know which way we’re heading. Personally, I vote for Chattanooga. It is beautiful here and the prices aren’t that bad. Don may have to rent something in Marietta. There are all kinds of apartments around the campus. Chattanooga is close enough that he could be home every weekend. There are colleges and universities here, where he could get the classes before he enrolls. I like the church schools they have here for Connie. They have a middle school and a high school.”
“Sounds like a winning solution to me. Let’s do it.” Don said.
I was happy with that idea. It meant we didn’t have to move back to Mississippi. We’d lived in Metairie for sixteen years and I’d miss it, but I always knew we would leave after you retired. We would be a couple of hours further away from my parents, but we could handle that.
That still left the problem of the farm property. I knew that was going to be sticky. I wondered if you were ready to consider selling it. If not maybe we could rent out the house. We could deal with that later. The farm was always something that was hard for us to talk about. It’s never easy to let go of a dream. The kids sometimes accused me of being a dream killer.
When we got back home, we debated how we wanted to go about marketing our house. First we needed to look at houses similar to ours to decide on an asking price. We had bought the house from the owner, and I was in favor of selling it the same way to avoid the Realtor fees. We had paid off the mortgage when you got your money from Chevron, and with you not working we didn’t need another one.
What we could spend to buy in Chattanooga, would depend on what we could get for our home. We needed to pay cash. You had taken a lump sum when you retired, which meant we would have to take our monthly expenses from that until I could find a job. That money would have to last until you were old enough to draw Social Security, and start taking monthly checks from your IRA.
We decided to wait about putting the house on the market until the school term was up. Disrupting Connie’s life at this point didn’t seem like a smart idea. The fact that she knew we were talking about moving caused her to tell people we were. Things hadn't been the same with her best friend since Lesley had turned some of her classmates against her. This was probably the reason she didn't seem as unhappy about the idea of moving as we feared she would be.
The news got around to our friends and neighbors that we were moving. I had always had a problem saying no if asked to head up a committee or do something involving church or Pathfinders, but now I did use the excuse that we might be moving.
In June, Connie turned fourteen. We were already having teen problems, and we realized things probably wouldn't improve until she got older. Most teens start to give their parents problems. I wasn’t a terrible teen, but I know I created my own share of drama. This daughter had started early, so we weren’t sure what we were in for. We hoped Chattanooga would be a better place for her to grow up than in the New Orleans area.
Later that summer, we did put our house on the market ‘for sale by owner.’ We put a sign out front and listed it for a month in the newspaper. We got a few calls and several people came and looked, but most of the calls were from local agents wanting to list it. One Realtor was very persistent, and he assured us that there was no way we would be able to sell the house without his superior sales ability. He said, “Let me list it for three months, and I guarantee it will be sold.” After our month-long-ad expired, we agree to sign a three-month listing with him.
When we bought the house sixteen years earlier, we’d only paid $30,O00. Real estate had gone up considerably, so we were asking $89,000. Over the three months, it was shown about four times. Only one man made an offer, and it was for $72,000. We countered, but he claimed he couldn’t pay more than $75,000. Our agent said we should take it, because it wouldn’t sell for more than that. By the time we paid his commission, it wasn’t enough so we told him “No way!” He got very belligerent and said “You’ll be sorry. That’s all you’re going to get for this house. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Our contract with him expired and we chose not to re-list with him.
When Christi learned we were planning to buy in Chattanooga, she was excited and wanted to go early because she had friends there. She called Carol and asked if she could live with her for a while until we came up. She also had a friend that she thought she could move in with, if that didn't work out.
Carol told her she could stay until Glen came back, so she got a ride to Chattanooga and moved in with Carol. Connie was happy to have the room to herself since they were always squabbling over something. You were happy because you didn't like Carol living alone.
Christi soon met a guy at church and started going out with him. One night, she had a date to go to a very expensive restaurant. She bought a new dress for the occasion. It was made of some thin synthetic material, but was slightly wrinkled from the shopping bag.
As usual, Christi was running late and panicking. She started begging Carol to press it for her. Christi is someone who will never let up until she gets her way, so Carol agreed. The problem was Carol was used to pressing her cotton uniforms and the iron was too hot and burned a hole in the material.
From what we heard later, a fight ensued of epic proportions. Christi was forced to wear an older dress and Carol left the apartment until she could cool off. I don't think she was with Carol that long. The next thing we knew, Christi had moved in with a friend.
 Recognized |
I'm continuing to recall memories of life with my deceased husband, Evan, as if I am talking aloud to him. I'm doing this because I want my children to know us as we knew each other and not just as their parents.
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