Imagine this, I walk up to house for a listing appointment and before I get in the door I am greeted by at least 3 years worth of newspapers stacked by the front door, several tables, and a old washer and dryer etc OK I think maybe they are going to take all of this to the dump or a donation bin. I look for a door bell and find it behind a bookcase which looks like it has been there for awhile thining to myself if this is the outside what can the inside look like, but still willing to give this a shot. I've turned some pretty hopeless looking homes into a sale with the right marketing,some trash 
out services and a good cleaning. A man opens the door and seems to have a problem getting the door open wide enough to stick his head into a crack and says are you the real estate lady? I say yes, I'm Sally Morris from Greenwood Realty. He says hang on a minute I've got to clear a path. He closes the door and I seriously think about making a run for my car but wait instead, by now I just want to see how bad it really is. I finally get the door open and I can not describe how really awful this mess is. There is literally a small path through the living room into a room that I think is a kitchen but not really sure because I can't see anything except plies of boxes full of old rusty top canisters, a toaster, magazines, curtain rods and lord knows what else.
So I say I see you've started packing already. No, he says I really want to sell the house with everything in it, my
wife passed away several years ago and I don't need all this stuff, now I am looking for a tactful way to get out of there without either busting out laughing or saying something that will insult him so instead I go through the motions of looking at the rest of the house which only gets worse.
I tell him I am going to go back to the office and pull some comps and I'll get back to him in a few days. I was too chicken to tell him to his face that there is no way I can sell this home with all this "stuff" in it. I can't tell what the house looks it without all the stuff in it because I can't see the house. I guess he hadn't read my article on Curb Appeal when you're ready to sell. I think at one time it was a nice little rancher in a pretty popular area in Greenwood on the ouskirts of town. So I go back to the office and try to work up my nerve to call him back and say thanks but no thanks but then I think, what if all the interior and the yard were all cleaned up I might give this a shot but not sure I can get it across to him the importance of giving or selling everything that he doesn't want to take with him. So I wait a day or two and call him back and say I'm not going to be able to sell your home as is but I am willing to sell your home cleared of everything inside and out that's not necessary for you to live while I am marketing it. I will help you find someone who will come get it all for a set price or if you want to donate it I will arrange that for you if you like.
He looks at me for a minute not saying anything and I'm thinking I've insulted him and he's really too mad to say anything. But he looks away and when he looks back at me he has tears welling up in his eyes and he says oh thank you! I didn't know how I was going to get myself out of this mess! I just want to move on with my life and I don't know where to start to get rid of all of this and I can't haul it off myself, I don't drive anymore, I get too nervous, peole drive like maniacs these days. So your "darn tootin", I will take your help! I can't thank you enough!
Sometimes a little backing up and looking at all the angles helps you make a decision that without thought
would have been a wrong decision in this case. I was able to help someone who needed help and sold a home that looked unsaleable at first glance. It was a win, win for everyone.
If you have a home you would like to sell please call Sally Morris
and visit my website to find out more about how I Market Real Estate In Greenwood SC
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