Win Our Danville, IL Colonial Home

9/9/08

WHILE WE HAD HIGH HOPES THAT THIS CONTEST WOULD RESULT IN SOMEONE WINNING OUR HOUSE UNFORTUNATELY THE NUMBERS JUST AREN'T THERE. ALTHOUGH WE HAD QUITE AN NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY WOULD JOIN IN, THEY JUST DIDN'T.

SO, AFTER THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED WE WILL BE RETURNING THE MONEY TO THE PERSONS WHO DID PARTICIPATE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT WE REALLY WANT TO SELL AND WILL ACCEPT ANY OFFERS ON PURCHASING THE HOME. THE COUNTY HAS ASSESSED THE VALUE AT $38,000, WE'VE INVESTED CLOSE TO $50,000 INTO THE PROPERTY AND WE LAST LISTED THE HOME FOR $45,000.

NEGOTIATE WITH US AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE A DEAL!!

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HISTORY OF HOME

Click the word HISTORY OF HOME link above for Pics and History of the Home - 8/3/08

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We are trying to sell our house!!! We purchased this house and rehabbed a lot of it with our own money. Unfortunately, things did not work out for us and we were not able to complete the work. The home is in “as-is” condition; it has close to $50,000 in renovations and upgrades but there is still some work to be done. Since the housing market collapse this is our way of dealing with trying to sell our house and recoup some of our investment! We are holding an essay contest and the winner will receive our house!! The essay can be on any subject you choose and is limited to 500 words. The entry fee ($100) will be refunded if we do not meet the minimum entries; see rules below for further details. Additionally, we will have the following runner up category winners:

  • First Runner-Up - $1500 cash
  • Second Runner-Up - $1000 cash
  • Third Runner-Up - $500 cash

This is not a scam. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for rules and contact information! We will give you a receipt to verify the transaction when we deposit your entry fee into our escrow account. Evidence of a clear legal title to the house will be provided to the contest winner by a commercial title insurance company.

 

 

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is this a raffle or an essay contest?
*This is an essay contest and not a raffle, the winner will be determined by a panel of judges based on the content. It is an essay contest with a $100 entry fee.
How do I enter?
*To Enter, you'll need to provide the following by the deadline entry of September 20, 2008: 1.Your $100 Entry Fee (Money order made payable to Deborah Yacoubian), 2. A self-addressed stamped envelope and 3. Your 500 word essay. Then mail all 3 items to: Win Our Danville Home, PO BOX 343537, Homestead, FL 33034.
Can I partner up with someone to enter?
Absolutely, if you need or want to split the entry fee cost with someone you are certainly entitled to do so. If your essay is deemed a winning essay then all names submitted as part of that entry will be given title to the home or the runner-up prizes will be split between them.
What costs will I incur if I win?
*As the Grand Prize winner of this contest, you will not be responsible for any closing costs, appraisals, etc. You will be responsible for the property taxes and insurance going forward (next years taxes), property taxes averaged $1,200 in 2008. All other costs related to title transfer will be taken care of by current homeowners. If you're the winner, this is considered a prize, therefore may have to pay income tax on the appraised value of the house. It's similar to winning a lottery. Winner should consult with their accountant regarding any financial liabilities incurred as a result of winning.
This home is in Danville, IL why am I sending the entry fee and essay to Florida?
*Good question, well we currently are not living in the home, we moved back to our home state and are currently living there. In order for us to review, confirm, keep records and number the essays we have to receive the essays ourselves. All funds will then be deposited into an escrow account until the end of the contest.
How can I confirm the legitimacy of this contest?
*We received favorable legal opinions from the State's Attorney of Vermilion County, Illinois, and from a real estate attorney in Vermilion County, Illinois, before we announced this contest. Any questions on how this contest works should be answered here or you can direct any other questions directly to us at winourdanvillehome@yahoo.com.
Can I look at the house?
*At this time we are not allowing people to tour our home. We will continue to post pictures and provide as much information as we can.
What kind of renovations remain to be done on the house?
*Good question, well a lot has already been done as we mentioned but it still needs some TLC. On the inside, some rooms may require the wallpaper to be removed, patched and then painted. We've already done a lot of this work so it's about a little less than halfway done. Rooms that have been completed have a knock-down finish. We refinished most of the oak wood floors. Most other work on the inside will be at your discretion. The roof requires repair or total replacement. The front porch and laundry room/bathroom roofs were already replaced. Any other work will be at your discretion, and as needed. The home needs some TLC but is really impressively beautiful on the inside, it just needs someone to give it some love and attention. Just remember, you will not be paying a purchase price for the house, which may leave you with money for whatever work you decide to do!!!
Do I have to keep the home if I win?
*Well, that's entirely up to you what you decide to do with it once it's yours. You can live in it, maybe even rent it or maybe decide to sell it. You will have the title so it's your choice!!
How will my essay be judged?
*Your essay will be judged as mentioned by content. While we realize this seems "vague", we are leaving it open for you to decide how you will make your mark. Just think about how your essay can "wow" the judges. We are not looking for anything specific other than what you decide you want to write about. It can be a personal story, a poem, a short story, anything you want. Just think about what kinds of things will get the judges attention!
Who are these judges and what makes them qualified to be a judge?
*The judges are various persons who have agreed to help with this contest. We will not be releasing their names at any time during this contest as we have been asked to keep them out of the publicity of this event and will respect them and their wishes.
Will the judges see my name on the essay and how will you prevent bias towards a particular essay if they know the author?
*The judges will NOT see the names of the authors. As the essays come in, they will be numbered and they won't be delivered to the judges until after the deadline for submitting entries has expired. This way, an essay that comes in at the beginning of the contest won't be read and forgotten about by the end of the contest.
The rules say that contestants can't be related to the judges, how do I know who the judges are?
*This is an excellent question, we will not be revealing the names of the judges and when your essay is submitted, your name will be removed from it for the judging process. We will review the list of potential winners with the list of immediate family members that the judges have provided us. If there is a name that matches, that person will be removed from the contest and their entry fee will be returned.
Can I submit my entry via e-mail and can it be audio/video?
*We are only accepting submissions through the method listed above, to the PO Box. Audio and Video essays are not eligble to win.
Can I enter more than one time?
*Absolutely. The more times you enter the better your chances. Each essay submitted does need to be different and a different entry fee for each submission is required.
For any other questions not answered here please contact us at the e-mail address below!