Lake House Diaries 18

      A local Real Estate office was contacted and an agent was tasked with the selling of the Lake House in the spring of 2026. The family was informed that sales were slow and therefore they should not expect a high sale price like they were suggesting. There had been very few lakefront properties sold in the last two years and historically, it was the Canadians who were buying them. Cross border visits by Canadians were declining monthly and there seemed to be no interest in them purchasing an American property with the $CAN so low. The family reasoned that because they were not desperate to sell, they could wait it out if the price was too high and there were no offers.

     The realtor consented to start the pricing at a figure considerably higher than what she had suggested. The family took into account that the asking price was always the starting point for offers and counter offers and where they might end up would be near the suggested price offered by the realtor. Tod and Em were at the Lake House with friends when the realtor's right hand man arrived with the "FOR SALE" signs. There was a momentary stab at their hearts when they realized that things were becoming real. There was no time left for remorse or second thoughts. 

     Activity picked up in the next few weeks as various articles and mementos were assigned and distributed. There was a certain amount of holding back as it would all be for nothing if a buyer did not show up. It was with surprise and relief when the family got a notification that there was an interested party and an offer was forthcoming. Again, that little shot of adrenaline as "Oh yes!" and "Oh no!" battled in the minds of the sellers. 

    The offer was considered very 'lowball' and after discovering that the potential buyers were owners of a company that flipped and/or developed properties, it was considered that the offer should be rejected outright. There was a strong loyalty and consideration of the neighbors and the family did not want to saddle them with the unknown for the next number of years. Would it be rented? Would it be torn down and re-built? Would it sit abandoned? Would it become a come and go party house? These were the considerations as the offer was being contemplated.