I write this without any fear of contradiction. I am a lawn nut.

Late last month, after six months on the market, I found a buyer for my home. That's a story in itself. But the lesson I learned is to be patient. I found a buyer who offered me what I was seeking, but with only one week left on my six-month realtor contract. (Had several other, low-ball offers. But held out for my price, despite calls from my realtor insisting I needed to lower my price. (This after first listing my house and telling me it would sell at that price within 30 days).).

The lesson I learned there is the commission on a house selling for $30,000 less is not that big a deal (to a realtor). That's a lot of money for me. But for my realtor, who is getting only 3 percent of the sale price, it is about a $900. So the realtor would rather see the deal made at any price and get paid now, even if it means I make a lot less money on the sale.

Anyway, I close at the end of January. The appraisal went through fine. The buyer has a loan. The deal is all but signed.

But here I am, today, New Year's eve Day, putting down a last winterizer application and getting ready for the last cut of the year.

I'm not going to see the benefit of all this work (the new owner will). But I'm still out there working in, what is soon to be, someone else's yard.

I am a lawn nut!

LOL. I'm doing the same thing. The new owner previously lived in a townhome. So I imagine (s)he could use the advice. (When to prune the redtwig dogwoods, etc) Though it also highly likely the new owner will just think I'm a nut.

xxryu139xx wrote:congratulations TT! in my opinion, i would pay your price just for the lawn. =)

I think one of the most gratifying things about this (I love the house and have mixed feelings about selling) is the new owners told their realtor that one of the reasons they liked the house is the lawn/landscaping.

I will make sure to keep a eye out on the place for you. Congratulations on finally selling the place. I am sure your sad to see it go but you can start over at the new place. Now you know alot more im sure it will be even better then the last. Have you found a new place yet? Where about are you looking? I know you said you want to be in New Jersey.

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simpson wrote:I will make sure to keep a eye out on the place for you. Congratulations on finally selling the place. I am sure your sad to see it go but you can start over at the new place. Now you know alot more im sure it will be even better then the last. Have you found a new place yet? Where about are you looking? I know you said you want to be in New Jersey.

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Metuchen, NJ. It's a nice town (with a thriving, old fashioned downtown (the town is only about 1-square mile) filled with really good walking-distance restaurants) and great schools. Property taxes are insane. But that's the price of living in Jersey. Metuchen is Exit 10, for you Jersey veterans.

The town isn't far from Rutger's main campus. So I'll be checking out the NTEP tests this year.

We haven't purchased there yet. But will do so after a thorough search.

Jon, we'll be back in the area once in a while. My sister-in-law lives five doors up from me here in Pa. So there will be the birthday and holiday gatherings (during which I plan to make trips to Good's Feed Mill and the Shady Maple!)

andy10917 wrote:

the new owners told their realtor that one of the reasons they liked the house is the lawn/landscaping.

Yeah, but I'm always surprised by how many people think that lawns and landscaping are "plant it and forget it" - they think that nurturing it is a waste of time. I've helped folks turn around properties and then they do nothing and can't figure out why it went downhill...

Yeah. I'm hoping for the best. I'll leave a note with instuctions and background information (when to cut back the ornamental grasses, redtwig dogwood bushes, etc). Most importantly, I'll let them know to never seed local, store-bought grass seed.

But I realize what happens here is out of my hands after I move out. I've seen bad things happen to good yards when a new owner moves in. Hopefully, they like it enough to follow the advice.

lol. yes. I believe you are in the club!

HanLawn wrote:does daily moving the position of the extension cord running across the lawn to the maple tree with xmas lights on it to prevent grass from dying underneath it make me a lawn nut too?

No that just means your crazy

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