A New Home for Ms. Hanson

Sumner resident Ms. Hanson came to the Toril Sells Houses Team with a unique proposition; to sell her Sumner home with enough cash left over to retire and live comfortably for a few years while she worked on her rental home prior to selling it.

You’d probably think, “No problem. The Toril Sells Houses Team has done this half a dozen times before, at least. No sweat.”

But there was a catch. The house Ms. Hanson wanted to sell was built a couple years before the 20th Century, in 1891.

Ms. Hanson was worried the home wouldn’t sell. After all, building codes are a little different than they were in the days of the Ryan Sawmill. But the Toril Sells Houses Team were undeterred. And with the help of Lisa Hudson, a frequent and outstanding listing partner with the Team, they were determined to sell the house. Age, after all, is simply a number.

So, they began the process. The house was staged, the photos were taken, and the house was listed on the market. In less than a week, the home was under contract from a prospective buyer for the full asking price.

Ms. Hanson couldn’t believe it. Even in her wildest dreams, she couldn’t fathom her house would sell so quickly. She later shared that she was both nervous and excited. There were so many plans to be made, boxes to pack. Honestly, she wasn’t sure where exactly to begin.

With old houses, come surprises, so naturally, the potential buyer wanted to have a home inspection done before making a final commitment. Well, with your typical home, an inspection is pretty easy. But for a home built well over a century ago, the process can become complicated very quickly. Ms. Hanson, Lisa, and the Toril Sells Houses Team held their breaths and crossed their fingers until the process was complete.

Fortunately for both Ms. Hanson and the buyer, no surprises were found, and the inspection cleared. One hurdle done.

Next was the appraisal, a process that presented a challenge all on its own. It’s unique to conduct an appraisal on a home built several years before the 20th Century, especially when you are trying to find comparable properties. There’s not a whole lot to compare it to.

After all, how many homes are still standing from this era, and in livable condition? Not many.

But Ms. Hanson chose her team well. She wanted the best, local experts to get the job done, which is why she chose to work with the Toril Sells Houses Team.

The Team went to work immediately; pulling comps, met the appraiser and made sure the true value of the home was shown. Sure enough, the appraisal came back right at the true value of the home, with no repairs necessary.

The closing process commenced, and the Team even managed to close the home early; giving the new buyer a chance to make new memories in a unique home, and Ms. Hanson a chance to move onto the next phase of her life.

After completing the retirement paperwork – officially retiring only a few days before the final close – moved into her rental home and began the remodel she had planned on from the beginning.

A few more satisfied customers. But then again, it’s just another day at the office for the Toril Sells Houses Team.