
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 6, 1994                   TAG: 9405060115
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: EXTRA1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: wendi gibson richert staff writer
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FRIDAYSOMETHING PUTTING IT TO THE TEST

Paul and Dora Kiefer are so desperate to sell their four bedroom, two bath home in Gouverneur, N.Y., that they're willing to part with it - and the high taxes and cold, snowy days - for $5. The buyer will be decided in what they call their ``last resort'' to sell: a contest of 25 ``moderately easy'' questions and - oh no! - an essay question.

The Kiefers would like to move anywhere south, though they're not sure where, yet. What they do know is that they've been unable to sell their home through Realtors for four years. So, bent on getting out of the Northeast, they developed the contest to get rid of the property.

They will accept 2,000 entries until Sept. 1. The winner will be the one who answers the most questions correctly, and, in the event of a tie, writes the best essay on ``Why I should be the one who gets to buy the house for $5.''

If you think you are the one, and you're not afraid to wager $51 to find out, send $1 and a self-addressed, stamped, business size envelope to P&D Enterprises, P.O. Box 427, Gouverneur, N.Y. 13642. You'll receive the rules and an entry form, which you send back, signed and notarized, with $50. Then, you'll get the questionnaire.

Hmmm... If the Kiefers accept 2,000 entries, and receive $51 for each one, that's $102,000. A tidy sum, for sure. But, the Kiefers assure us, 35 percent of it will go for taxes, and $25,000 will pay off the mortgage. That leaves $41,300, for legal costs and other debts. They figure they'll be lucky to wind up with $10,000.

| - WENDI GIBSON RICHERT

by CNB