The Oney’s Covid Journey
Leslie Jones
As a former teacher, Leslie has had intense training in the fine art of listening for subtleties and understanding complex issues…
As a former teacher, Leslie has had intense training in the fine art of listening for subtleties and understanding complex issues…
Businesses across the nation began closing, job security plummeted, and the Oneys wondered how this pandemic would affect their search to find a forever home.
The same day Ashley and Patrick Oney listed their townhome in American Fork on the real estate market, schools across Utah shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses across the nation began closing, job security plummeted, and the Oneys wondered how this pandemic would affect their search to find a forever home.
Forming a Game Plan
When the Oneys called me to discuss finding their forever home, they had several questions and concerns about this new process.
As Patrick says, “For me, it was how do we buy and sell with the home we are currently in . . . and not feel rushed or forced?”
For Ashely, she had concerns about their future finances. “This is a crazy market,” she says. “Houses are going for way more than you would expect them to go for, which is great when you are selling a house, but when we are buying a house, how is that going to impact us?”
I sat down together with the Oneys to form a game plan. First, we got their house ready to list on the market, which included packing and storing unessential items and bringing in cleaners. Then, we began the search for their new home.
The two began to see homes that would meet their goals
For Patrick, it was a big basement and a big backyard where he could barbecue and where the Oneys’ lab, Lincoln, could have plenty of space to play. For Ashley, it was the kitchen and location, something that would allow the two of them to spend more time at home rather than commuting. As we began searching, the two began to see homes for their potential and future possibilities.
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“It was stressful,” Ashley says, recalling how homes disappeared from the market as quickly as they appeared. “I think we spent probably 3 or 4 weeks together pretty much almost 3 times a week.”
Patrick and Ashley were committed to the process. We worked together to prepare not only their townhome to sell but their strategy and approach to offers. We utilized different strategies with each offer knowing the contingency to sell their home was limiting their ability to compete with other offers.
“It feels a little surreal,” Ashley says about finalizing the purchase of their new home. “We got to do a walk through yesterday and, oh my gosh, I fell in love with the house even more.”
“When I am looking for my forever home . . . I want to be able to walk into a room and I want to be able to see the memories when I am old.” Patrick Oney
While sitting on the front porch of their new home in Lehi, the Oneys know that this will be a home filled with new memories and opportunities.
