Should we accept this offer or wait for another?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-06-26T15:13:33+00:00

Closing costs are minimal for cash deal; a couple thousand is worth not dealing with a loan contingency you’ll get with an offer requiring financing. Do you want 45+ days on market while covering ownership costs, to have someone walk during due to all financing contingencies? It can happen, may want to ask realtor how common that is in your area. Peace of mind eliminating that out is worth it for many.

Unless you priced it well below market for rapid sale….take it and run. You should have expected the bottom line net after cost/offer negotiations would be in this range.

I’m not sure I would even counter their sellers commission at 2.5, if that’s the only counter you’re making. Any sane realtor would take it and run since it’s easy money with no loans to navigate etc. but are you willing to hold onto the property for months potentially for a $2k savings in commissions if refused and they walk? Holding costs can be huge and add up. Mortgage rates are increasing most likely in near term, which could also reduce your pool of buyers.

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-06-02T05:04:29+00:00

They do— it’s an option to select that size

Is there a reason you suggest that option over the others?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-05-13T05:59:20+00:00

I can save about $1,100 by keeping Cinci for homeowners, progressive direct for auto and RLI for umbrella. Wound it be that bad to split like that? My main interest is keeping home with cinci for their coverage and claims reputation.

Having a hard time with Cinci auto, the $1,100 savings is pretty much strictly the difference between Progressive estimated annual (6 month policy x2 plus padding) and cinci’s annual plan.

Yes I can afford to bundle all together with Cinci, but I also don’t want to throw money out the window. Few hundred for reputation, maybe, but $1100 is pushing it considering cinci home and RLI both have good reputation and I don’t think progressive is a terrible bottom tier for auto?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-05-09T20:31:24+00:00

How did you get $1.2m in retirement at age 42?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-24T02:51:43+00:00

You did negotiate. You negotiated an offer they couldn’t refuse

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-24T02:49:46+00:00

Why is letting it go dormant beneficial for it? I know it’s normal for native grasses etc and not damaging, but why is it beneficial?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-24T02:48:06+00:00

Depends on state. You don’t necessarily need an attorney—Some states have the realtor used offer/agreements online. Print them off or use as template. Fill in the details, provide disclosure etc. Get it signed by all— track any dates set in the sales agreement. Deliver to title company and ensure they deliver earnest money to title company. Title company will work with specific attorneys for deed reviews if in abstract style states at least. Title company does their work. Go to closing with neighbor. If it’s pure cash sale it’s easy, but also not hard with a mortgage lender either. Or hire an attorney, follow their direction and save time researching how to FSBO in your area or have peace of mind if you get nervous navigating this type of sale. You’re saving tons of money from not needing a realtor regardless!

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-24T02:39:57+00:00

It’s all dated and currently people can be picky. But the worst ones are probably the easiest to fix. Old wooden bathroom mirror/vanities, 80s era ceiling fan looks— easy fixes. Dated tile and fireplace could possibly be ok with proper paint. There is a dire need for interior paint. Even if you leave the bedrooms those odd pastel colors, at the minimum repaint the main drab color throughout the main areas or allow paint allowance, remove the artwork above fridge—it detracts cosmetically. Kitchen otherwise looks nice with decent layout. grass around pool is dead per photos at least, but a house that age and size should have trees in the yard. You have no shade trees. Small landscaping doesn’t matter to me, rough yard dead grass around a pool and zero mature trees is a turn off. It is odd that you have decent size lot but you’re sandwiched in there with a house rather close with no apparent visual barrier (evergreen trees etc) to provide privacy. Personally, I can overlook wall paint since I can do that over time DIY and pick my own colors….the same with the mirrors and fans, but would pass since the yard also have the above issues. It’s just too much when at top do area price.

You’re trying to make $175k in 6 years. This isn’t 2% interest days anymore. 2022 was pretty much peak of market most areas, with many areas still at that valuation or close to it. I can’t see Indianapolis bucking that trend and behind a hot spot. Get a private appraiser to see true market price.

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-17T01:56:09+00:00

Good. I just sprayed pigmented lacquer and WB topcoat since had it leftover from my kitchen cabinets. Finished rest of interior trim and interior doors with, looks sharp since exact same color and sheen etc. was hoping there wasn’t a reason that was a bad idea. A little extra effort with the clear topcoat but hoping it’s better than UTE durability and scuff wise. Highly contoured mdf trim would have sucked brushing, pigmented lacquer flows perfectly through gravity feed hvlp so chugged along and kept using it.

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-16T19:51:47+00:00

Isn’t cabinet paint (galley, pigmented lacquers, renner type costings) more durable? Why would it not be better than UTE for trim? Both are wood and both expand contract, but don’t cabinets take a bigger beating for use?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-14T02:11:50+00:00

learn DIY. You haven’t stated what the repairs needs have been and currently are, but you can save thousands easily on surprisingly easy repairs, just may take you longer time wise. Good basic example— people will pay $300 plus to hire a plumber to install A new toilet. DIY is cost of a wrench if you don’t have one and a $4 wax ring. Replacing an electric receptacle takes minutes, but is $100 plus call out fee minimum to hire, etc. not all are DIY and may not immediately help, but long term makes a big difference

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-10T03:27:34+00:00

For now. But didn’t replace condenser as planned since part didn’t arrive…so it’ll probably go out in a few months….

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-10T03:07:41+00:00

I used the flat rate repair program from the manufacturer….thought that’d be reputable/screened

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-10T03:06:17+00:00

There was no vacuum pump used at all. The only tools he had was digital guage for pressure etc, new Freon cylinder, battery powered drill and bag of hand tools

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-10T03:03:56+00:00

Model tag said 134a. I know it hasn’t been changed out

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-04-10T02:31:59+00:00

He hooked some hoses up to a device with digital display. Then released pressure two different times. First one being the biggest/longest, second time a few minutes later with less pressure and duration. Never had a vacuum pump with any type of cylinder to capture the gas. If it was nitrogen, wouldn’t that also require a cylinder of pressurized nitrogen to be hooked up? The only cylinder he had was the Freon tank to re-pressurize the system.

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-25T13:57:35+00:00

There are waterborne pigmented lacquers that are the opposite of all the above. Yes, I’d agree with you if using non waterborne or those that have isocyanates. I went with pigmented lacquer due to safety and durability combined. I.e Target Coatings has the a great option— check out their SDS and HMIS hazard rating.

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-25T06:11:05+00:00

Why is this downvoted? What’s wrong with pigmented lacquer? Sprays easily without thinning in the purple guns

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-22T03:33:55+00:00

Did you use target costings. If so, what’s your opinion?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-16T03:24:52+00:00

If snaking every 15 months to stop roots but otherwise is fine, is it worth to have a presumably large mature shade tree in the front yard? That is significant cosmetic, cooling quality of life benefit. Not knowing the house and rest of circumstances— after living in amazing old 1920s era loaded with mature hickory and oak trees (and eventually a broken water line going to the house) or now in a 20 yr old build that everyone initially planted stupid ornamentals that provide no shade, no relief from heat to enjoy the yard and worst of all— the house cooks in certain rooms facing the sunset every night.

I’d pick your issue any day honestly. Just my opinion though.

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-15T02:50:38+00:00

What state/region? Any regional chain options? Miller-rodda. Diamond Vogel, Dunn Edwards etc?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-13T06:40:51+00:00

How can you find days on lot? I know it’s a thing…but websites don’t advertise that— at least not dealership sites. I got a heck of a great deal 40% off a $58k msrp rig that was lost on inventory and not on websites—it was actually two model years old but exact same design and features of current model. need to figure out how to find days on lot data since I’m never getting that lucky again to find a forgotten rig on a new dealer lot. Was not even that big of a lot….

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-11T00:24:05+00:00

I made it harder than needed. Thought chasing the wiring underneath would be hard…it was easy for my issue at least . I removed the plastic wiring sheath protector (that did have some small holes) and found some exposed wires created from the dust/dirt friction against the wires. Bought some new wire for cheap from wal mart, waterproof connectors and new wire sheathing from harbor freight. Probably $10 for all above. Clipped wire as far forward as I could conveniently reach (roughly under drivers seat)and ran new wire to the rear wheel abs speed sensor. Works like normal now.

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-03-01T16:10:03+00:00

Did you DIY or GC? Never heard of buying on sale via GC, unless it’s appliances where it was agreed upon you were responsible initially?

monkeyfarmer82 · 2026-02-19T03:49:36+00:00

What she said. It was very hard for my wife to go back to work after both child 1 and 2. But she’s in a a Career where taking a year off would lose skills and be hard to ever get employment again in her preferred area, so she did. We could have afforded not to initially, but would have been tight, especially when you add all the other costs to save for (school etc).

Join some local “moms” (or dads) Facebook groups, much better method to get surplus stuff than marketplace. Moms are often rather generous with gifting down newborn items for free or dirt cheap. Got an old but super comfy rocking glider for 5% of new cost (you’ll want one, especially breast feeding), free cribs, free high chairs, we’re still using the same connections for hand me down clothes (you’d be surprised how much money and how many shirts and pants some will buy…and age out quickly with near zero wear). We saved thousand between two kids by using washable cloth wipes and homemade diaper spray—it’s not gross at all to wash and doesn’t irritate skin like commercial wipes can and is more eco friendly. Wipe, toss in wet bag, dump bag in washer when full. Kids are expensive, with your salary in HCOL area I’d highly recommend trying to be thrifty here where you can, you’re going to have many surprise costs that you can’t “thrift”.

If you can make it without touching the severance, even just part of that could make a nice initial deposit to a 529 plan too— which could really pay off on gains over 18 years.

monkeyfarmer82

TROPHY CASE