True Story

Click. Sold. What it's like to sell a Dallas home with Opendoor.

Miriam Glover says she would use Opendoor again in a heartbeat.

Photo courtesy of Opendoor

Selling your home can be a hassle and the timeline can be uncertain, but Opendoor is trying to change that. The innovative company has been helping sellers — and homebuyers — navigate the world of real estate since it launched in 2014, and those who have tried it say they'll never go back to doing things the old way.

One such happy seller is Miriam Glover, a Dallas-based writer who recently used Opendoor and wanted to share her experience.

CultureMap: How did you hear about Opendoor?

Miriam Glover: I do a lot of writing for real estate agents, and because of that I knew I didn't want to go through the traditional, uncertain process of selling my home through a Realtor. I was driving around my neighborhood when my daughter spotted an Opendoor sign in front of a house. She suggested I try it out, because I'm so busy with work that I didn't want to deal with the stress of traditional showings. An hour later, we heard a commercial for Opendoor and thought it must be a sign. We did our research on the company, read their amazing reviews and news articles, and decided to go for it.

CM: How was the process?

MG: Right from that initial finding, it was very smooth. One of my concerns was that most everything with the company is done online or over the phone, so I was worried I wouldn't be meeting anyone in person. I was hesitant, but then they connected me to a great Opendoor rep who took amazing care of me. She was always available for me, answered all my questions immediately, and explained how the process would be beneficial to me — because I don't have a traditional 9-5 job, I would find the old mode of showing a house intrusive. It was all handled so well!

CM: How long did it all take?

MG: From the initial conversation to the closing, I'd say it took less than a month. It felt even faster, because I didn't have to do all the out-of-pocket steps you usually do when getting your home ready to sell, like repairs, decluttering, and keeping my house show-ready. Opendoor took care of all that for me, plus I didn't have to constantly vacate my home for showings. That really worked for me.

CM: What did you think of the offer that Opendoor submitted to you?

MG: I was ecstatic. It was more than I thought it would be, especially considering I didn't have to do any of the work. It was exactly in line with what other homes in the market like mine were selling for. I had been in a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home and my youngest was going away to college — I just didn't need all that space. This came at such a good time, because I was ready to move into the heart of Dallas and a more low-maintenance home lifestyle. Because I was able to sell my house at such a fair and comfortable price, I could make that transition happen.

CM: Would you use Opendoor again?

MG: Not only would I use it again, I highly recommend it to all my friends and family. The ease of use is unlike anything you could imagine, and it has allowed me to live the lifestyle I want to live now. This is the easy, hassle-free future of real estate, and I hope people take that initial step and try it out!

House For Sale

Dallas house for sale from the '50s is still in original condition

Courtesy

9203

There's a house for sale in East Dallas that's increasingly hard-to-find: a well-preserved home from the '50s for sale that's in nearly original condition.

The house is located at 9203 Lindaro Ln., just outside Loop 12 and walking distance to Bishop Lynch High School, in a stable neighborhood of homes build in the mid 1950s.

The listing by Bryant Nieves of Elite Real Estate Texas calls it a "beautifully preserved Mid-Century gem" with original hardwood floors in the downstairs bedrooms, a recently installed roof, a modern sprinkler system, and an upgraded AC unit.

There are multiple living spaces with a formal living & dining area, eat-in kitchen, and family room which includes an office nook with built-in desk. It has both a carport and attached 2-car garage, as well as a fully fenced yard.

Most of the homes in this neighborhood are 1,200 to 1,600 square feet, and priced from $250,000 to $350,000.

This house was built in 1957, but it differs in that it has a second-floor add-on over the garage — making it roomier at 2,202 square feet, with 5 bedrooms instead of the usual 3.

The two bathrooms are in original condition with '50s tile, both in good shape. The main bathroom has pale warm tan tile, almost flesh colored; the second bathroom, off one of the bedrooms, is a little prettier, with white tile and green-tile edging. Both are far superior to granite-look ceramic.

While both bathrooms merit admiration, this house is more about the wood. There are

original hardwood floors, all in great shape
wood doors including closet doors
wood paneling in the family room, with wood bookshelves and a build-in wood desk

There's also an odd wooden bookshelf that serves as a divider of sorts in the stacked formal living room.

The only room that looks unoriginal is the kitchen, which boasts white-washed '80s cabinets. It looks clean and functional, even if it does not match modern tastes.

Courtesy

Facade of 9203 Lindaro is pleasing, thanks to the unpainted brick.

It sits on a 7,535 sqft lot and the asking price is $395,000 — a bit optimistic, even if they find the rare buyer who sees value in an untouched '50s home.

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