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A Home in Hawaii That Didn't Follow Real Estate Logic

By 1SG (Ret.) David Kucic

Real Estate Agent with Hawaii Military Realty, Inc.

September 24, 2007 06:34 AM

By: David Kucic RA, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO, GRI
First Sergeant, USA (Retired)
Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii

One of the first things I was told when I began my career as a Real Estate Agent in Hawaii was that the inside of a home will look like the outside of the home. Meaning that if the outside looked bad, chances are the inside would look bad. If it looked good on the outside, the pride of ownership should flow right into the house.

That information was not new to me. I have been around for a while and that was something that I figured out a long time ago.

What I saw yesterday while I was out looking at open houses in Hawaii was a home that defied the odds. This home was beautiful on the outside. This piece of real estate was owned by a Hawaii Military family and I knew I would be proud to walk through the doors to their palace and be impressed by their beautifully maintained home. The grass was manicured and green, the bushes were trimmed and the curb appeal was awesome.

However, after going into the house, I couldnt beleive what I saw. The carpets were filthy and stained (it is tradition to remove shoes in Hawaii when going inside and I almost wanted to go back outside and put mine on) the walls had hand prints, crayola drawings, knicks and gouges. One of the bedroom doors had been drawn on with markers.

Dont judge a book by its cover!

www.davidkucic.com
mailto:david@davidkucic.com

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Leigh Brown

Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC

CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC

What a disappointment! And bless their hearts, they probably thought it looked great. You're smart to be out visiting opens over the weekend, learning the inventory first-hand-a lot of folks should pick up that pearl of wisdom.

Sep 24, 2007 06:55 AM

1SG (Ret.) David Kucic

Hawaii Military Realty, Inc. - Ewa Beach, HI

President and Owner

Hi There Leigh! Their agent who was sitting the open house explained to us that the kids had the run of the house. I think the sellers were aware that the inside is in need of serious TLC because some of those things were so darn obvious. But then again, they may be obvious to you and me but like you said, the sellers may have thought it showed great.

I hit at least a handful of open houses during the week at our brokers opens or on Sunday for our traditional open house days. You have been in the real estate business for a long time. Do you still go to visit the open houses too?

Aloha,

David Kucic RA, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO, GRI
First Sergeant, USA (Retired)
Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii
www.davidkucic.com
mailto:david@davidkucic.com

Sep 24, 2007 07:36 AM

Jim Little

Ken Meade Realty - Sun City, AZ

Your Sun City Arizona Realtor

Top, good to see you again. Did you say the agent was sitting this one? I hate going into a home you might catch something from. I even started to carry Purel in my briefcase because of this.

Sep 24, 2007 07:38 AM

Aloha Jim! Yes, the agent was sitting the open house. The Purel is probably a pretty good idea although this one wasn't bad enough to justify that for me. It was very strange because overall, the house was organized and there wasnt "stuff" all over the place but the walls, doors and carpets were terrible. I forgot to mention the house is less than 4 years old and these are the original owners.

David Kucic RA, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO, GRI
First Sergeant, USA (Retired)
Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii
http://www.davidkucic.com/
mailto:david@davidkucic.com

Sep 24, 2007 07:52 AM

Robert Monk

100% Realty, Inc. - Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Florida Real Estate

Excellent point, 1SG, you can't judge a book by its cover, but I still want to know if 'shoes make the man'.

Sep 24, 2007 03:50 PM

Robert-I dont beleive that the shoes make the man. What do you think about that one? I would say that the man makes the shoes. Look what Michael Jordan for Nike shoes. Aloha,

Sep 26, 2007 12:35 PM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi David,
Now that is a reverse on the saying--interesting. My question is why did the agent not insist that the place be cleaned prior to an open house. Maybe they could not afford to paint (I doubt that) but they could have scrubbed the walls and doors. You know?

Sep 26, 2007 11:46 PM

Aloha Cynthia-I can't speak for the agent that was showing the house but I know I would not have been caught in there! Maybe, if the MLS remarks clearly stated that the house was in need of TLC and it needed new paint......The walls were beyond scrubbing and a whole new interior paint job would have been more like what they needed. They should have at least cleaned the doors though!

Sep 27, 2007 06:56 AM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

David.... I am sure this is true of so many things in life. Kind of like the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side" Even if the house was just so so on the outside, how can one live like that inside. In my opinion... I live in my house, not outside of my house. In any case, surprised on how someone could think they could sell their house like that. That part kills me.

jeff belonger

Oct 02, 2007 04:58 AM

Aloha Jeff-Thanks for stopping by. Haven't seen you around in a while. I don't know what they were thinking. The house is still on the market.

Oct 02, 2007 12:12 PM

A Home in Hawaii That Didn't Follow Real Estate Logic

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