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Sonoma Home "Staged" with Mystery Auto Parts

By Kirsten Lindquist

Real Estate Agent with Pacific Union International

July 17, 2011 12:07 PM

Auto Parts @ Open House - Kirsten's Sonoma Real Estate Blog

I've got this sweet listing in a nice neighborhood that I held open today. I pulled up promptly at 1PM only to find a portable auto parts junkyard...parked just perfectly...to block most of the view of my client's lovely home and landscaped front yard.

The seller had already left so I couldn't ask her if she knew who owned the SUV with the attached trailer. I knocked on neighbor's doors but nobody recognized the Nissan Xterra hitched to that trailer full of busted car pieces. I texted my client but got no response. So there they sat. Brightly colored eyesores impossible to to miss upon a drive-by. And that's what people did. They drove right by without stopping at my open house. They checked out the trailer but never set foot inside the front door.

Buyers aren't buying unless they see a great Sonoma home that looks like a deal AND gives them that feeling of "this is THE place for me." I don't think a heaping pile of dirty, beat-up auto parts does much to evoke that feeling.

I'm wondering if I should call my auto repair shop guy. Maybe...just maybe...he can see himself living here? I'm also wondering if the neighbors realize their property values could be adversely impacted by the mystery auto parts that were so unpleasantly staging my client's front yard?

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Doug Bullwinkel

E Mortgage Capital, Inc. NMLS 1416824 - Roseville, CA

Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #281609

At least it was mobile and not a permanent fixture to the front yard. Isn't it funny how the neighbor's kid has his rock band over to practice at the same time as your open house or the neighbor's yard is full of barking dogs that don't even live there. Timing is everything.

Jul 17, 2011 12:16 PM

Steve Loynd

Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH

800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Kirsten. When your plan appears perfect, watch out for the completely random acts of idiocy.

Jul 17, 2011 02:27 PM

Rodney Mason, VP of Mtg Lending

Guaranteed Rate NMLS# 2611 - Atlanta, GA

AL,AR,AZ,CA,CO,FL,GA,IN,MI,MS,NC,NV,SC,TN,TX,VA,WA

It definitely didn't make a good first impression for potential buyers.

Jul 17, 2011 02:28 PM

William Johnson

Retired - La Jolla, CA

Retired

Hi Kristine, Wow, that is actually quite a situation. I was on a listing app't last week and out front was a truck and behind that a boat trailer. When I inquired , it belongs to the tenants ( her children). I asked if this was permanent and she said they would have no place to move it to. Humm! Which is worse. Neither are great additions to the curb appeal,:-).

Jul 17, 2011 04:44 PM

Ann Hayden 636-399-7544

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO

SelectAnn.com

Kirsten,

Did you ever find out who owned it?

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Jul 20, 2011 04:42 PM

Kirsten Lindquist

Pacific Union International - Sonoma, CA

Realtor - Sonoma Wine Country

Doug---it's comical actually. Have to laugh at what happens in this business sometimes.

Steve---everything was perfect...down to the soft Mozart playing in the background. Nobody could see beyond the auto parts to enjoy the house...or the music.

Rodney---you're absolutely right.

William---there is a boat on a trailer in the driveway of the house next to this place. If I could chose...which I couldn't...I'd pick the boat. Not as disturbing as a pile of wrecked car parts.

Ann---we did not. It just blessedly disappeared!

Jul 21, 2011 04:06 AM

Sonoma Home "Staged" with Mystery Auto Parts

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Kirsten Lindquist

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