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Wordless Wednesday (Almost)--Hiding an Elephant!

By Teri Eckholm

Real Estate Agent with Boardman Realty Minnesota License#90858

June 09, 2010 08:13 AM

Hiding Elephant by Teri Eckholm Realtor

Kind of hard not to spot this guy isn't it? Sometimes home sellers in an attempt to "stage" their home will try to camouflage the flaws with decorating. Putting a plant in front of a major crack in a wall or positioning a couch over a damaged wood flooring is not the best way to sell a home. It often looks no better than this guy hiding behind the tree. Buyers working with a good REALTOR will see through the smoke screen to the elephant in the room. Best advice is to make a proper repair from the get go!

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Tamara Camden Vacation Rental Agent

All Rentals 2 Remember, inc. - Key West, FL

Hi Teri, I agree that would not be a wise choice to try to hide a major flaw. Mistrust can kill a deal real quickly if it's discovered. Homes sell so much easier when the flaws are repaired from the onset.

Jun 09, 2010 08:25 AM

Cara Marcelle Mancuso

Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes - Tucson, AZ

Call a Marana neighbor, I'm THERE!

Hi Teri - thanks for your post. I have a question for you...in Tucson, AZ, ornamental wrought iron windows are common in pre-80's construction. They were brought up to code by having "panic" levers installed at chest level inside the bedrooms that had no other fire escape save an interior door way. That way, in a smoke-filled house, an occupant could fumble to the wall, pull the lever, open the window, and escape through the iron bars.

Here's the problem. Home after vacant home, you walk into the bedroom and all you see is this metal lever in the middle of a wall. UGLY! I have to confess I use shrubbery and greenery to "hide the elephant". What would you do?

Jun 09, 2010 08:59 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Tamara--Exactlly...Thought this photo represented what some sellers would try to do so thought I would use it to demonstrate that the major flaw will still show through.

Jun 09, 2010 09:50 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Cara--I think I would do exactly what you are doing...stage the home with something to draw the attention away from what is there but not cover it up...but I would suggest that the seller note what the handle is and what it was used for in the disclosure. However this doesn't sound like something that is a defect...just obsolete. I have seen sellers try to hide things that should be repaired...like putting a poster over a hole in a hollow wood door rather than replacing the door. Buyers find at the showing, inspection or final walk through...then the negotiating can begin all over again.

Jun 09, 2010 09:54 AM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Terry this is a creative way of presenting this issue - love the little (ok big) elephant! Sellers need to disclose disclose disclose here in AZ - no two ways about it. You are so creative -I have learned so much from you since I first got going on AR for real. How's things in MN? Heating up (sales that is). Hope so!

As for those pesky levers Cara is talking about - we've had many of those things removed. They're just weird, ugly and a downright eyesore. Plus bars on windows is just freaky - Most areas and homes don't need bars on their windows. Everytime I see a house with bars it makes me think - is this a safe neighborhood. And is usally is - just a fad from days gone by that needs to go bye bye.

Featured in Bananatude!

Jun 09, 2010 12:55 PM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Anna--Thanks for the feature! I have always tried to tie everything to real estate where possible. I took this picture on the safari ride at WDW last fall and when it came time to print or delete I thought I would save for a wordless Wednesday as it was just too funny--a hiding elephant.

Thanks for the explanation about what to do with the ugly levers. From time to time I see a house with the window a/c units that were built into walls and after adding central air there will be a big hole...ugly but unless someone wants to re-side the exterior and re-sheetrock the interior, there is a weird boarded up hole in the room...usually with a chair in front.

Things aren't heating up too much in MN since the tax credit expired but things haven't come to a total standstill either. Just keeping working along...How are things in AZ?

Jun 09, 2010 03:15 PM

Marchel Peterson

Results Realty - Spring, TX

Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Teri, I love the picture and I love how you turned it in to a lesson on staging.

Jun 09, 2010 03:47 PM

Tony & Darcy Cannon

Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT

The C Team

Teri, great point! It is like hiding an elephant! Great photo to illustrate that point!

Jun 09, 2010 05:50 PM

William Johnson

Retired - La Jolla, CA

Retired

Hi Teri, What a great photo to make such an important point. We have probably all worked with a clients that think this way. Great post Teri.

Jun 09, 2010 05:50 PM

Pamela Cendejas

Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ

Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Teri - Looks like the elephant needs a bigger tree.

Jun 10, 2010 06:54 AM

Randy Dodd

Rosanna's Realty - Abilene, TX

ePro, GRI, TAHS

Cool, yes really good information you put out there. Straight and to the point.

Jun 10, 2010 07:09 AM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Hey Terri - we're working with short sellers quite a bit. I expect 60% of sales will be shorts this next few years. As you know - these folks really need somebody to guide them through the process as it's so hard and stressful time for them. I do look forward to a more normal market - ha - that will be awhile.

Jun 10, 2010 08:36 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Marchel--I always try to make things real estate related where possible...Thanks!

Jun 11, 2010 03:15 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Tony--I thought it would work well...had a hiding giraffe picture too but thought that would be overkill.

Jun 11, 2010 03:16 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

William--Thank you! If we haven't worked with these clients, we have probably shown one or two homes to buyers whose owners thought they were hiding a flaw but we could see the elephant through the trees! :)

Jun 11, 2010 03:18 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Pamela--lol...I guess you are right about that!

Jun 11, 2010 03:18 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Randy--Thanks!

Jun 11, 2010 03:19 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Anna--I think that is one thing that everyone across the US is looking forward to...a normal market. Unfortuntately we will be continuing to work through this one in the meantime. :)

Jun 11, 2010 03:20 AM

Karen Kruschka

RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA

- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Teri You culd not have selected a better photo to make your point - EXCELLENT !!!!!

Jun 11, 2010 07:54 AM