cat’s leaping out of the bag…
August 14, 2006
Today I can finally tell you what I’ve been so busy working on / planning / thinking about / doing lately. It’s been consuming all my thoughts. I’ve hated keeping this a secret, but it’s one of those things you have to be hush hush about for various reasons…
We are moving to South Carolina. In four weeks.
We’ll be a short two hours away from Tom and Alison so I can zip down there to help them if they need me… if she’s having a bad day and wants some company. Or if she’s having a good day and wants someone to share that with too. :) I am very excited to be able to help them out more. And a two hour drive is nothing compared to 12 or so.
But there’s a TON to do before we leave. First thing is selling our house. The market here is in the dumps, so it’s a bad time to sell… but we are trying to be hopeful. If you know of anyone who is looking for a charming, 2 bedroom stone house with a basement and a huge yard in Indianapolis, would you please please tell them about mine?
Can you tell that I’m stressed about it? Four weeks is going to fly by and we are moving September 8th into an apartment… So there is pressure. I just keep praying that someone will show up on the doorstep and fall in love with it just like we did four years ago. Good vibes! Good vibes!
So, that’s the story… Anyone live in South Carolina and love it? Anyone have any good tips on how to sell a house real quick-like? Anyone know how to calm down a stressed lopie? AHH!
I’m hoping talking about it and asking out loud “please send a buyer who loves this house as much as we do!” will make some ripples… you think?
I’ll keep you posted.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
oh penelope!!! i don’t really have words, but let me try…
my mother passed away from cancer this past febuary, she wast 59. i spent every
possible minute with her. helping, sharing stories, cuddling, laughing, listening
praying, going to the hospital, saying all the things we wanted to, and just
loving each other to bits. spending time together really is the best thing to do.
i do not know you (except through your blog) but i can honestly say i am proud of
you for making the huge leap towards what really matters in life! you will never
regret it. if you need ANYTHING let me know! {i don’t know anyone in indianapolis
but i can post about it on my blog about your house to spread the word, and
encourage others to do the same!
GIANT hugs,
shanna
August 14th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
I’ve been there a few times with friends (who own a house there.) One of the most scenic states I’ve been In, and being on the coast means more culture! I think you’ll like it.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
I recently moved to North Carolina and love it. Went to school one year in South
Carolina…loved it too! Depends on the area of course but there are some great
towns in SC. As for the house situation…decluttering is the best advice I can
give. We sold and closed on our old house in about a month because we packed
away and hid all of our ‘personal’ stuff. People like to be able to see their
stuff in the house. Good luck with everything!
August 14th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
i watch alot of hgtv shows like sell this house, designed to sell and most of
it is about presenting a clean, bright neutral home. one of your photos looks very
dark and this could turn buyers away. other ideas to make your house appealing is
fresh flowers, remove all clutter so the rooms look bigger than they are.
we had our apartment on the market for a year without an offer, it was empty beca
we had already moved. after a year we decided to rent some furniture and stage the place like they do on the tv shows and within weeks we had four offers.
hope this is helpful. all the best.
August 14th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Hey there. I’ve been reading your blog for a while. (THANK YOU!) I think I
found it through Keri Smith’s?? ANYway….I live in SC and we are scheduled to
CLOSE on the house we are selling the same day you move to SC. Where will you
be living???? If you are anywhere near Greenville, SC let me know….maybe I
can help in some way.
I’ve been sending Alison positive thoughts since I read about
her on your site. She IS a cancer SURVIVOR!!!
August 14th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
ohhh, this is an exciting move! good luck my dear! xo, mati
August 14th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
Congratulations!!! That is so great! Well your house is beautiful on the inside. That is a steal in my opinion especially with the basement. You both did a great job. I think a young couple just like you would be a perfect fit for that home.
Are you hiring movers to help or doing it yourself??? If you do use movers we used North American Van Lines when we moved from Indy to Raleigh. They were awesome. Organization is the key! Trust me!Good luck with it all!
Tiffany
August 14th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
dear p,
you so rock it my friend. it will all come together. it will all come together. it will all come together - and *perfectly*, and *in divine time*
check out shakti gawain’s “creative visualisation” audio cds, they work a treat in helping you SEE things happen, and feeling great big peace with it.
i’ll email you the pink bubble visualisation darlin.
so happy for you doing this for you, and for your fam.
love,
leonie
August 15th, 2006 at 3:39 am
Nice house - I would buy it if I lived in the US! Hope you have a stress-free move.
August 15th, 2006 at 5:49 am
OK - have you heard of the St. Joseph/selling your house theory?
One of our friends tried this and it worked. You purchase a St. Joseph statue and bury it a specific way in a specific area and voila, house sold. It’s sounds crazy but there are alot of people out there who believe. Besides, they go for around $10 bucks so what have you got to lose? They even sell a kit with instructions. I’m sure you can find tons of info on it over the net. Here’s one place to look…
http://www.stjosephstatue.com/
Good luck. If you try it, please let us know if it works?
August 15th, 2006 at 6:01 am
You’re leaving Indy :-(
But it is going to be great to be near your family… I’ll mention the house to people I know…
August 15th, 2006 at 6:54 am
Your house will sell itself; it’s beautiful! I can’t wait for you to be down here…
August 15th, 2006 at 6:55 am
Yay Penny and Colin! Can’t wait to have you here! We’re so hanging out all the time…
August 15th, 2006 at 7:18 am
I second the idea of the St. Joseph’s statue. We have used it and for whatever reason it works. :-) And I’m not even Catholic! Good luck to you in your new adventure.
August 15th, 2006 at 7:54 am
I work in real estate in Florida (so I don’t know much about the Indiana market) but the most important thing is to price it right. Even if it’s just $1000 less than comparable listings in your area, it makes a huge difference. Everyone wants to make money on a sale, but if you price it too high, it will not move. That kind of sucks, but that’s the reality of real estate in a buyer’s market.
Good luck, and let me say that I think what you’re doing for your family is awesome!
August 15th, 2006 at 8:21 am
good luck to you penelope :) I’m sending good house-selling vibes your way. I have family in Charleston, SC - it’s a beautiful place. I don’t know exactly where you’ll be, but I’m sure you and Colin will continue to have a wonderful life together down south!
August 15th, 2006 at 9:19 am
South Carolina! I hear it’s beautiful down there and that the people of that state are super nice. Good luck with the house selling. Your house is veeery cute and look at that yard! Keep your chin up, Penelope, it’ll happen and soon you’ll be sipping mint juleps on a beautiful veranda with Alison and her husband. Well, that’s the vision I have of you in South Carolina!
August 15th, 2006 at 10:02 am
Thank you all for all the support!
I have emailed my agent a few brighter pictures to replace the darker ones… Good suggestion!
And I’ve bought a St. Joseph to bury in the yard. I’ve never heard of that, but will definitely give it a go!
xo
August 15th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Hey! Congrats on your move! I work p/t for a realtor group here in Pa, and from what I gather, the market is down about 15% from what it was this time last year. Houses are selling slower, but they still ARE selling…so that is a good thing! It might take a little longer, so dont’ be discouraged if it takes a few months. Your house looks to be in very nice shape - which is great! Just some info from working in the business for a little while…the only downside I can see is that it is a 2 bedroom. The upside is that you are on a nice piece of land, the house looks to be in great shape, nice kitchen, fireplace, AND a 2 car garage. Plus - from the pictures, it looks as if the house shows well… so you have alot of plusses working for you! Good luck!
August 17th, 2006 at 6:38 am
Hello, I’m an illustrator in Clemson SC (not the most creative and alternative of communities, but the weather and the scenery are nice). I wish you good luck with your move and your family, if you land near Clemson/ Greenville, let me know.
best wishes, Tatjana
August 17th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Hope you’re going to be near Charleston!
August 17th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
Wow, that is a huge relocation! I’ve been following your blog since I found IF and then listened to your interview at the illustrationmundo podcast (which was super cool!). You are such an inspiration to me! I admire your courage and your dedication to work and family. It is wonderful that you are so open and willing to share everything with us! Thank you - I’m sending you and your family all the best wishes with everything that is going on. All the best with your move :)
August 17th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
sc cheap to live. got gas there today for $2.79 gal, sales taxe and property taxes r some of the lowest in the county. schools not so good, ranks about 46th or so in the nation. ppl can be friendly, scenery is good speically the beaches and the upper portions near western nc cause ur close to the mountains but then just about any place u live there is too. i dont live in sc but its only a 10 drive for me to be there. oh just so u know for some ppl here the war never ended. and that can be on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 being so so and 10 down right hostile.
August 19th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Change is good, although stressful. And the angels will with you because of your motivation for you move. It will be fun, different, exciting….and full of love and family. What can get better than that? ;)))
Your house has such great yard space. Unbelievable. I miss that here in WA state. I remember yards in TExas that would go on forever. Go lightly and yourself. And keep that mantra in your head.
August 29th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Penelope - great news! I hope you are moving to Charleston (where I’m originally from) - gorgeous beaches, great food and super friendly people. Good luck with the move. Have you told Nikki (of Skirt! mag fame)? Claire
August 30th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Hi Penelope - I was just looking at your site after seeing your artwork on the Scott Hull website. Anyway, I love your work, and I am so happy to hear you are moving to SC! I have lived in Greenville pretty much my whole life. I really like it here, and it gets better every year. Good luck with your move. Let me know if you’re moving anywhere near Greenville!
September 6th, 2006 at 9:29 am
i’m in Charlotte, NC, which is right on the border of SC. If you’re around this neck of the woods (Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Columbia) shoot me an email and I can tell you some great places to visit! If you’re on the beach. . . we’ll I’m envious.
September 14th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Congrats on the move. :) I was excited to see you were moving to South Carolina. I love it here!! I’m in the upstate (Greenville area). I’d love to know if you are going to be close. My husband and I are moving in 4 weeks from our apartment to a new place in town. I know what the stress is like.