The Home Front

Home Giveaway Essay Contest Goes Bust

By Luke Mullins

Posted: August 28, 2008

We've seen all kinds of gimmicks used to try to sell homes in the sluggish real estate market. Here's a new one: an essay contest.

But judging from the article below, sellers might want to take a pass on this approach.

From The Associated Press, via Boom2Bust:

The deadline has just passed for J. J. Rodgers and her husband Wes Ludlow to give away their second home in Red Feather Lakes, Colo. The couple started the contest in January after their two-story home sat on the block for three straight summers.From across the country, people mailed in essays and the $100 entry fee. Rodgers said she was "astounded and touched" by the stories strangers were willing to share.The couple extended the May 25 deadline, but still fell about 700 entries short of the 2,000 needed to make the contest work financially."We knew going in the possibility of it not being successful. That's historically true about essay contests," Rodgers said.

The couple plans to put the mountain home back on the market and return the entry fees. As for the essays, Rodgers isn't sure what she will do with them.

Wanting to sell our cabin the the Smoky Mountains

We have a 2 bedroom, 2 bath cedar cabin built in 2007. Large park like level yard (1+ acre),with year around stream. We would like to start an essay contest. Does anyone know the legalities to this type of contest and how to get started? Thank you.

Bill Skansie of TN @ Jul 22, 2009 17:37:41 PM

SC home contest lised above

Where can we get more information?

Mark Samwick of PA @ Jun 09, 2009 06:58:02 AM

Essay Contests

Try EssayContests.com for a continuous list of contests around the world where the prizes are homes, businesses and vehicles.

Mark Samwick of PA @ Jun 09, 2009 06:37:02 AM

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The Home Front

The Home Front

Associate Editor Luke Mullins tracks the treacherous housing market and explains how to unload a five-bedroom McMansion or even find that dream home.

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