LAKEWOOD - What started as joke is now an innovative way for Richard and Paula Eisenberger to sell their home.
The Eisenbergers are auctioning their house, located at 975 Hunt Road, Lakewood, this weekend. Mrs. Eisenberger said she joked with her husband that they should auction their home after struggling to sell the property through a realtor. Well, after reading about house auctions and structuring the event to suit their needs, the joke is now a reality.
Mrs. Eisenberger said people can tour the five-bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2,845-square-foot house which is located on 1.37 acres of property from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Those interested in purchasing the home can submit a bid by 8 p.m. Sunday and then provide evidence from a financial institution that they have the money necessary to buy the house by Wednesday.
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Mrs. Eisenberger said the house is appraised at $155,000, but they are willing to accept the best qualified bid greater than $120,000.
''Most auctions don't advertise the reserve, but I thought it would be better this way,'' she said. ''People don't have to pay to put in a bid, either.''
Mrs. Eisenberger said they have lived in the house for six years and have spent $30,000 to $40,000 during that time on home improvements. She said no auction firm was hired to handle the transaction, but her lawyer is involved in the process. People can find more information by searching for their address through Google, where people can search through several links about the property.
''This is not a foreclosed home. This is a really nice house,'' she said.
The Eisenbergers are selling their home because they need to relocate to the Buffalo area where Richard is an information technology professional. He had lost his job locally a couple years ago and since has bounced around from working in Columbus, Ohio, to now in Buffalo. During this time, Mrs. Eisenberger and their three children, 9-year-old Leora, 7-year-old Oliver and 2-year-old Adelina, have been living in Lakewood alone, seeing Richard when he is able make it home.
The family was close to moving to a new home in Buffalo when people were prepared to rent their house. However, at the last second, the renters backed out of the deal, which also cost the Eisenbergers their chance to purchase the new home in Buffalo.
''It has been a roller-coaster ride. We don't know if we are going or staying,'' she said. ''It has been hard on us and especially on the kids. Our goal is just to be a family again.''
The Eisenbergers went through conventional means to sell their home by hiring a realtor. However, after months and months of no one showing interest in the property and a lack of support from the realtor, they have decided a more proactive approach.
''In this modern age with the Internet, I don't think a realtor is needed to get the job done,'' she said.
Mrs. Eisenberger said she has no idea how many people will show for the open house or how many are interested in the property. She is hanging posters around town, telling her friends and family and detailing information on Facebook about the auction.
''I think it will be exciting. I think people will be curious about us auctioning our home,'' she said. ''Once people see the house, they will fall in love with it.''
Mrs. Eisenberger said if it was up to the family, they wouldn't be moving.
''We love the area. It is a great place to raise children,'' she said.