Do you ever get there??
 

Well, i have had 3 estate agents all through the house...and all have given completely differing opinion of price??
So, I have one more coming tomorrow (hopefully they will concur with one of the others...) and I can get my house listed for sale by Friday.
I am assured by all that the house will sell. This area is strong and stable, this is the best selling period etc. Normally takes 30 days for a sale etc.
Sadly though...one of the natives has just decided to move into my roof cavity! I have discovered that Possums are noisy, smelly and PROTECTED!!! I can get rid of it...into my garden...where it will just nip straight back in by lifting the tiles that I am replacing??
I am petrified that a buyer will be put off by a scurrying noise. It costs $400-$500 to engage a catcher...with no guarantees.
Why now?? Do you think that buyers will be put off? I know that I would...but that is as I am having to live with it, I guess.
I am booking my plane tickets for January 17th next year. That gives me 11 weeks to sort out life here...pushing it slightly, eh? I need to get the children all into school in the UK by Jan. They have no schools to go to here from the end of term here (Dad would understandably not pay any more term fees after that), and they are all keen to get their new life started.
Reassure me that I am not mad??

Re: Do you ever get there??
 

Elizabeth16 You are not mad! I am envious. Sounds like you have enough time, unless the sale of your house delays you. :fingerscrossed:
Can you get into the space the possum is, is it in the attic? If you have the room, you can buy a small animal trap, shouldnt be too expensive, at least they arent here in Canada, we have similar problems with raccoons. The traps are cages, and generally come in two sizes. Just put some bait inside, then, once caught you can release it away from your property?
I would not want to spend all that money to employ someone to do this, rather try yourself first.
See here for more info.
Hope it helps. Good luck!

Re: Do you ever get there??
 

You are allowed however, to catch feral cats. Your local council will lend a you a "cat" trap. ;)

Re: Do you ever get there??
 

We had one in the roof space at our (rented) house in Sydney. It was noisy at dusk when it was getting up and first thing in the morning when it was making it's way to bed. Just make sure you have viewings in daylight when your 'guest' should be asleep!:D

That and lots of febreze!

You're not mad - you will get there!

Re: Do you ever get there??
 

Anything in the SE suburbs sells, i wish i could afford to buy :)

Re: Do you ever get there??
 

The real estate people all seem to think I will sell - houses on average round here seem to sell in 30 days. We bought 8 years ago...would not have a hope of getting on the ladder now.
I saw the possum tonight...it was being so loud that I popped up the roof hatch and poked my head through the cavity. It was just standing there, a meter away from me, staring at me...as if I was the nuisance! The worst thing though...was that it had a baby possum on its back! I have had so many bad thoughts about that possum...but it looked so cute! I crowded the kids up the ladder and we all went "ahhh! So cute!"
In desperation today I called a catcher who said he would come out tomorrow. But tonight my friend called and she said that she may be able to get a cage through a work colleague...I hope so.
I think you are right and that I could get away with inspections and no noise...but it will be the building inspector that the future buyer engages that will advise the buyers that they have a free (smelly) pet.
I just don't want for anything to go wrong!
I have had the 4th real estate person today and have a good idea of the market price now. I just need to be brave and actually engage one tomorrow. It feels like such a big thing though...giving someone the responsibility of selling your house. I will sleep on it and the one that I am thinking of when I wake up in the morning...I will hire them:)
How does that sound for a strategy??

Re: Do you ever get there??
 

Sounds good to me! Our's used to get up at night and go and sit in the tree outside and stare at us while we gazed back doing the 'Aww, cute' thing.
It was a different story at 5 am when it was making it's way back into the roof space!

Good luck

Re: Do you ever get there??
 

"The Possum Whisperer" came round this morning and popped in a one way door. When the kids and I got home from work and school at 1630hrs...the possum was wandering around on the deck!!
The kids and I fell over! The Possum was completely unperturbed by us. Just continued on with its meandering around.
The Possum guy said that for a possum to be wandering around happily in bright daylight with humans in spitting distance was almost unheard of. Doesn't that just fit in with my life??
The Possum Whisperer is coming back at 0830 tomorrow. So far so good...its 2130 and we have not heard a thump or hiss at all. Usually by now, the party is full swing in the roof, so fingers crossed.
If a building inspector does note signs of a possum, at least I can say there was a hole in the roof, it got fixed and now I have a 12 month guarentee from the Possum Guy.
Now to list the house. I have two companies that I like best out of 4...both seem similar, do you think there is much difference between real estate companies? Or do they pretty much do the same thing?
I am booking the plane tickets tomorrow (going with Etihad...they look lovely:))
Keep those fingers crossed that the domesticated Possum keeps out! Also, pity me for having to spend the day in the roof disposing of possum poo!