The Sins Of A Seller

Right on! These are things I repeat to my clients again and again. It's great to that SOME realtors are on the same page.

I will share your article with my home sellers.

Bonnie Carter

Staged results Barrie, ON

I came across your posting while looking for info about how to stage a home.  I am not selling my home but I realized when sellers "stage" their homes, they look better than ever and some even say if they knew it could look that good, they would not be selling it.  So now I stage my home and it looks good enough to stay in!

I guess I didn't laugh at this so much as my mouth was on the floor.  I do understand, though, because my brother-in-law and his live-in gf have tried to sell their home at least 3-4 different times over the last 5 years.  They can't sell. The last time I was in their home, it was the nicest and cleanest it has ever looked. 

Here's the thing -- you are all right -- sellers do not listen and some say the dumbest things.  We (our family) told them what the agent told them for years but especially to sell:  get rid of the clutter and crap.  They put the majority of it in storage pods.  Unfortunately, for a year they kept the pod in their driveway until the neighbors complained of the eye sore.  They still had a "den" that was stacked floor to ceiling with "stuff" and they left a path to get to the computer.  And they left used, oily car parts on the sun porch but removed all the furnishings.  Doh...  They still kept the huge parrot cage in the tiny dining room (guess they don't know that is a health hazard not to mention just plain gross). 

Get this -- the agent told them to get rid of all the stuff they don't use everyday and they responded with -- this is the "kicker" -- "We use it all everyday." 

Of course they don't.  That's when they finally put her (cheap) doll collection and his (cheap) model car collection in the storage pod.  No, the dolls have no real value, they are cheap crap, ditto the model cars.  And of course, they don't "use" those at all, much less everyday. 

Every year they "remodel" too ... the bathroom has been done at least 4 times in the last 10 years.  And it doesn't look any better than it was -- just a lot cleaner.  So it's an improvement.    The kitchen is on it's fourth metamorphis too.  It took them a long time to realize their "designer" colors on the walls did not appeal to anyone but them.  The living room had one copper wall (metallic, yes) and the other three walls were painted "denim blue".  I give them credit though, they realized they need not paint the little white stitching all around the walls to make it look like denim jeans.  Uh-huh. 

They finally painted the majority of the walls white.  They had an odd front garden going and finally got rid of that -- it's always way too much stuff planted in it AND they put all kinds of garden crap in it too (think ugly cheap gnomes) and tiny cheap wind chimes hanging from the mini-magnolia tree.  They did get rid of their other "improvement" in the back yard too -- they poured cement "steps" and it was not thick enough and ran all over the place. 

So they are at last removing the "crap" but still have plenty left to get rid of.

They did clean out their garage one year but there is still plenty in there.  At least now they can fit one of their four cars in their two car garage. 

Packrats, I guess?  Needless to say, they still haven't been able to sell their home so they brought back into their home all the crap that was in the pod.  I am afraid to step back into their home but they have taken over the family holiday get together.  So I guess I am stuck eating Christmas dinner on paper plates with plasticware and sitting someplace other than the dining room/parrot room. 

Again, this is all true and not funny.  But I am glad someone can actually laugh at this stuff. 

When looking for a home 15 years ago, we found some nice ones but the "improvements" the seller made were anything but.  They consisted of square mirror tiles on the ceiling of a room (not the bedroom either).  What's up with that (pun intended)?  Another had installed cornices that were not straight anywhere.  Basically, it made my husband and I say, that will take us so much time to rip out the "improvements" to improve it that it is not worth it to us.  As you say, SAD.  And the thing is, one of the sellers is an MD!  He has the money to hire someone to do it right.  SAD.  He did finally sell it but for much less than he asked -- and that was DURING the housing boom, not after the crash.  That should have told him something. 

Anyway, thanks for writing this.  I am sure you agents and stagers see more crap than I do on a consistent basis.  It is good you keep your sense of humor about it!  God knows, I can't.  I wish I could but can't.  I will, however, share this with my husband.  I think he will laugh just realizing his brother is one of those sellers who says things like "We use all of it everyday."  And does not take advise from others well.  

Oh, yeah, the sun porch was an add on that was not done right and leaks.  They are thinking to take it down (Good!) but not replacing it (Bad -- the house is too small and dark without it).  Oh well, we'll see what they decide to do to "improve" it.  ;)

Thanks again!

I came across your posting while looking for info about how to stage a home.  I am not selling my home but I realized when sellers "stage" their homes, they look better than ever and some even say if they knew it could look that good, they would not be selling it.  So now I stage my home and it looks good enough to stay in!

I guess I didn't laugh at this so much as my mouth was on the floor.  I do understand, though, because my brother-in-law and his live-in gf have tried to sell their home at least 3-4 different times over the last 5 years.  They can't sell. The last time I was in their home, it was the nicest and cleanest it has ever looked. 

Here's the thing -- you are all right -- sellers do not listen and some say the dumbest things.  We (our family) told them what the agent told them for years but especially to sell:  get rid of the clutter and crap.  They put the majority of it in storage pods.  Unfortunately, for a year they kept the pod in their driveway until the neighbors complained of the eye sore.  They still had a "den" that was stacked floor to ceiling with "stuff" and they left a path to get to the computer.  And they left used, oily car parts on the sun porch but removed all the furnishings.  Doh...  They still kept the huge parrot cage in the tiny dining room (guess they don't know that is a health hazard not to mention just plain gross). 

Get this -- the agent told them to get rid of all the stuff they don't use everyday and they responded with -- this is the "kicker" -- "We use it all everyday." 

Of course they don't.  That's when they finally put her (cheap) doll collection and his (cheap) model car collection in the storage pod.  No, the dolls have no real value, they are cheap crap, ditto the model cars.  And of course, they don't "use" those at all, much less everyday. 

Every year they "remodel" too ... the bathroom has been done at least 4 times in the last 10 years.  And it doesn't look any better than it was -- just a lot cleaner.  So it's an improvement.    The kitchen is on it's fourth metamorphis too.  It took them a long time to realize their "designer" colors on the walls did not appeal to anyone but them.  The living room had one copper wall (metallic, yes) and the other three walls were painted "denim blue".  I give them credit though, they realized they need not paint the little white stitching all around the walls to make it look like denim jeans.  Uh-huh. 

They finally painted the majority of the walls white.  They had an odd front garden going and finally got rid of that -- it's always way too much stuff planted in it AND they put all kinds of garden crap in it too (think ugly cheap gnomes) and tiny cheap wind chimes hanging from the mini-magnolia tree.  They did get rid of their other "improvement" in the back yard too -- they poured cement "steps" and it was not thick enough and ran all over the place. 

So they are at last removing the "crap" but still have plenty left to get rid of.

They did clean out their garage one year but there is still plenty in there.  At least now they can fit one of their four cars in their two car garage. 

Packrats, I guess?  Needless to say, they still haven't been able to sell their home so they brought back into their home all the crap that was in the pod.  I am afraid to step back into their home but they have taken over the family holiday get together.  So I guess I am stuck eating Christmas dinner on paper plates with plasticware and sitting someplace other than the dining room/parrot room. 

Again, this is all true and not funny.  But I am glad someone can actually laugh at this stuff. 

When looking for a home 15 years ago, we found some nice ones but the "improvements" the seller made were anything but.  They consisted of square mirror tiles on the ceiling of a room (not the bedroom either).  What's up with that (pun intended)?  Another had installed cornices that were not straight anywhere.  Basically, it made my husband and I say, that will take us so much time to rip out the "improvements" to improve it that it is not worth it to us.  As you say, SAD.  And the thing is, one of the sellers is an MD!  He has the money to hire someone to do it right.  SAD.  He did finally sell it but for much less than he asked -- and that was DURING the housing boom, not after the crash.  That should have told him something. 

Anyway, thanks for writing this.  I am sure you agents and stagers see more crap than I do on a consistent basis.  It is good you keep your sense of humor about it!  God knows, I can't.  I wish I could but can't.  I will, however, share this with my husband.  I think he will laugh just realizing his brother is one of those sellers who says things like "We use all of it everyday."  And does not take advise from others well.  

Oh, yeah, the sun porch was an add on that was not done right and leaks.  They are thinking to take it down (Good!) but not replacing it (Bad -- the house is too small and dark without it).  Oh well, we'll see what they decide to do to "improve" it.  ;)

Thanks again!

I came across your posting while looking for info about how to stage a home.  I am not selling my home but I realized when sellers "stage" their homes, they look better than ever and some even say if they knew it could look that good, they would not be selling it.  So now I stage my home and it looks good enough to stay in!

I guess I didn't laugh at this so much as my mouth was on the floor.  I do understand, though, because my brother-in-law and his live-in gf have tried to sell their home at least 3-4 different times over the last 5 years.  They can't sell. The last time I was in their home, it was the nicest and cleanest it has ever looked. 

Here's the thing -- you are all right -- sellers do not listen and some say the dumbest things.  We (our family) told them what the agent told them for years but especially to sell:  get rid of the clutter and crap.  They put the majority of it in storage pods.  Unfortunately, for a year they kept the pod in their driveway until the neighbors complained of the eye sore.  They still had a "den" that was stacked floor to ceiling with "stuff" and they left a path to get to the computer.  And they left used, oily car parts on the sun porch but removed all the furnishings.  Doh...  They still kept the huge parrot cage in the tiny dining room (guess they don't know that is a health hazard not to mention just plain gross). 

Get this -- the agent told them to get rid of all the stuff they don't use everyday and they responded with -- this is the "kicker" -- "We use it all everyday." 

Of course they don't.  That's when they finally put her (cheap) doll collection and his (cheap) model car collection in the storage pod.  No, the dolls have no real value, they are cheap crap, ditto the model cars.  And of course, they don't "use" those at all, much less everyday. 

Every year they "remodel" too ... the bathroom has been done at least 4 times in the last 10 years.  And it doesn't look any better than it was -- just a lot cleaner.  So it's an improvement.    The kitchen is on it's fourth metamorphis too.  It took them a long time to realize their "designer" colors on the walls did not appeal to anyone but them.  The living room had one copper wall (metallic, yes) and the other three walls were painted "denim blue".  I give them credit though, they realized they need not paint the little white stitching all around the walls to make it look like denim jeans.  Uh-huh. 

They finally painted the majority of the walls white.  They had an odd front garden going and finally got rid of that -- it's always way too much stuff planted in it AND they put all kinds of garden crap in it too (think ugly cheap gnomes) and tiny cheap wind chimes hanging from the mini-magnolia tree.  They did get rid of their other "improvement" in the back yard too -- they poured cement "steps" and it was not thick enough and ran all over the place. 

So they are at last removing the "crap" but still have plenty left to get rid of.

They did clean out their garage one year but there is still plenty in there.  At least now they can fit one of their four cars in their two car garage. 

Packrats, I guess?  Needless to say, they still haven't been able to sell their home so they brought back into their home all the crap that was in the pod.  I am afraid to step back into their home but they have taken over the family holiday get together.  So I guess I am stuck eating Christmas dinner on paper plates with plasticware and sitting someplace other than the dining room/parrot room. 

Again, this is all true and not funny.  But I am glad someone can actually laugh at this stuff. 

When looking for a home 15 years ago, we found some nice ones but the "improvements" the seller made were anything but.  They consisted of square mirror tiles on the ceiling of a room (not the bedroom either).  What's up with that (pun intended)?  Another had installed cornices that were not straight anywhere.  Basically, it made my husband and I say, that will take us so much time to rip out the "improvements" to improve it that it is not worth it to us.  As you say, SAD.  And the thing is, one of the sellers is an MD!  He has the money to hire someone to do it right.  SAD.  He did finally sell it but for much less than he asked -- and that was DURING the housing boom, not after the crash.  That should have told him something. 

Anyway, thanks for writing this.  I am sure you agents and stagers see more crap than I do on a consistent basis.  It is good you keep your sense of humor about it!  God knows, I can't.  I wish I could but can't.  I will, however, share this with my husband.  I think he will laugh just realizing his brother is one of those sellers who says things like "We use all of it everyday."  And does not take advise from others well.  

Oh, yeah, the sun porch was an add on that was not done right and leaks.  They are thinking to take it down (Good!) but not replacing it (Bad -- the house is too small and dark without it).  Oh well, we'll see what they decide to do to "improve" it.  ;)

Thanks again!