I was reading Canned soup or houses?  Why bother with packaging? by Karen Otto. I was moved!!  She is absolutely right.  We should all print it out and add it to our listing presentations.  

If you are a REALTOR and have not hired a stager, DO IT NOW!  This struck me today because I showed a home in a very desirable neighborhood yesterday.  Remarks in MLS said the home was being sold 'as is' due to limited budget.  This can be a concern but this home is priced accordingly.  I comped it out and the numbers worked.  As long as an inspector didn't find any major issues then we're in business!

Curb appeal is awesome.  A half acre of nicely wooded yard.  Full,rocking chair, front porch, gorgeous!!! 

Then I got a whiff.  Someone must have been walking around the house smoking.  Boy, was I wrong!!  I opened the front  door and  got knocked off my feet by the  haze.

I am talking about 17 years of a couple packs a day.  Okay, I know, it is being sold 'as is' and it is price well for 'as is' so i move on through the house.  Mind you, I had to keep my eyes open and looking around so I could step over and around the STUFF.   And I mean Stuff Collecting as a 400 level class!  The lighting couldn't even help.  It was too much.

Look past the stuff, look past the stuff...

This brings me to my point. 

  • the numbers support an 'as is' sale.
  • the neighborhood is fantastic!!!
  • the lot this home is on is GORGEOUS
  • this home is custom built by a reputable builder in our area.

OI!!!!   The house won't sell like this!  It has been on the market and has reduced the price and is offering an allowance. And still, it sits.  Put a POD unit in the driveway and pack it up!  The buyers will forgive you a POD in the driveway.  They won't forgive you hiding the house.  If you are offering an allowance, please, go ahead and change the carpet.  Then, don't smoke in the house!  Just don't!   

We are talking about a house that would probably sell in a week or two if buyers could walk in it.  

Help us, help you.  We want to sell your homes!!!

 

13 Comments on I was reading this post and I thought, she's right!!

AUG
07
2007
131,525 Points Outside Blog
The other amzing thing is you can show clients a stage home and a messy one and they take the messy one. Same price range and everything.
9:02pm • #1
4 Featured Posts
It would be different if condition and presentation of a home didn't indicate how regular the general maintenance of the home is taken care of.
9:28pm • #2

I have a listing with light purple walls... the buyers just cant see past it. A new coat of paint would probably have sold the house months ago.
9:35pm • #3
627,200 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
The greatest problem we have when selling repo homes is the smell - you name it - we've got the smell!  I can see why some oof these homes are hard to market.
10:13pm • #4
AUG
08
2007
322,060 Points 28 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp
what's that smell... lol - this is a classic - well done
2:16am • #5
4 Featured Posts

Adam - and you want to shake someone and say,"It is a $25 can of paint and $100, tops, to hire a painter or you can just do it yourself."  It is cheaper than your monthly mortgage.

Kay - And it isn't a repo home.  She just wants to move and doesn't have cash flow for repairs. I am good friends with the listing agent so,of course, I talked to her about this listing at length.  I hate to see it sit in that neighborhood.  She needs the listing.  She gets great calls off of it.  What a waste of marketing money!

Thesa - shoo-weee!!! 

 

Thanks everyone for the visit!! 
6:23am • #6
232,803 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Hi Virginia,

These are the homes that we should be buying as investments, get a good contract price, get a loan, get a stager, get a customer, get happy with the profit!

Dick Beals
10:56am • #7
Localism Sponsor
I agree with Dick.  We should buy these at a deep discount, make the repairs and back on the market for a profit.
11:00am • #8
334,239 Points 28 Featured Posts Outside Blog
It's just hard to describe how repulsive this house is!!!  These sellers don't realize that when we as agents smell the cat pee, we talk about it to other clients who are looking in the same area-when you don't fix it up, you're losing more than the potential buyer who actually got to the door in the first place.
2:47pm • #9
AUG
10
2007
337,556 Points 30 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

We walked into a $1.9M house in Reno yesterday that smelled like a pent up dog. Was amazing. Every other house though was stunningly immaculate.

thanks for this post, and also for commenting on something we recently did. it was most appreciated.

Cheers 
8:19am • #10
AUG
29
2007
304,064 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Virginia,
People do not "see" or "smell" what surrounds them daily.  As difficult as it is, we owe it to our clients to tell them about the problem. 
7:01am • #11
4 Featured Posts
Cynthia - Unfortunately, this woman has been told repeatedly.  She feels like the house should sell itself.   It amazes me.  I don't think she will get it until agents turn down the listing  a couple of times  if action is not taken.   And you and I  both know  that  agents don't turn down listings, even when they should.
7:11am • #12
1,072,306 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp
Some time you can not get the owner to understand even while you are packing up their stuff in the "POD"!  I have come the be blunt with owners, not nasty or aggressive but telling the truth blunt, "do you want to move or stay" blunt.  It gets their attention and sometimes they even help pack the pod!  Nice post.
6:05pm • #13


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Virginia Halter ABR, CDPE, CRS, GREEN, SFR, SRES

Harrisburg, NC

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