How honest should I be with my seller? This was my original post in November, where I received an email reply of feedback on my local listing. Since then, after 61 comments, all with great advice and thoughts, My seller has moved out with the house still on the market.
This is a widow of 18 months, who just needed to get out of her house and move to her new life in Ohio. She was very difficult, but at the same time very sensitive and emotionally drained. She left her home with the moving van the day after Christmas. She left a dirty home, with numerous things behind, like the dining room table and chairs, and selected items that she just didn't want.
In my earlier post, I asked the Active|Rain community how they would handle this situation. How honest should I be with my seller? I decided, that it would not do us any good if I did not tell her the truth, although showing her the email feedback would have been the worst presentation.
So I attacked each problem individually, and also came up with a solution for each one as well. Her house was a clutter mess. Three of us on our team, went in and staged her house. We gave her work to do, and she packed up all the extra things into boxes, and I moved them into the garage.
The price was WAAAAY to high. We reduced it by $40,000, although still a bit high. So she did listen to me to a point. It was difficult, as she would cry about each issue, but it was something we needed to do.
Now the house is vacant, and I arranged to have her carpets cleaned. We now have all these items that were left behind. I am taking them to the good will, and to the trash. Some are out front of her house with a FREE sign, all approved by the seller.
She has approved a cleaning company to come in and clean from top to bottom. That will happen this week.
What an emotional ride for her. She left her home of 39 years, this week in a hurry to move to the next chapter in her life. I am the Realtor, who promised she would never need to return ever again, not even for closing. I will take care of it for her.
I was there at the end when the truck was loaded, and the dogs were in the car. She cried giant tears, and hugged me tightly and thanked me for helping her close the book on her lonely life as a widow, and opening the next door of happiness in her Ohio home, near her two daughters.
So although the house is not sold, I guess I did a good job. I conveyed the issues, although unpleasant, we addressed them all, and she appreciated it. It is all about working for my client. I will be alone at closing for her, when ever that happens, and she is happy, never having to return ever again, to a place that has so many good memories, but now were filled with being alone and unhappy.
Thank you fellow members for all your comments and thoughts on this subject. Anyone want to buy a house?
The feedbackl comments I received on her house are as follows, and the full post can be viewed at the link at the beginning of this blog posting. Happy New Year everyone! Thanks. This Active|Rain community is one wonderful place!
I have copied and pasted the feedback here directly from the Buyer's agent:
These comments are directly from my client so I am sorry if they sound harsh.
The walls are terrible. From the bright blue to the dirt in the foyer, to the paint all over the trim and all over the back deck. The house smelled terribly of dogs and it is very apparent that it was not well taken care of. The lighting was also horrible as well as the borders. It didn't show well at all. Someone seriously needs to clean up the house and stage it for a better showing. I was disappointed to see this home after having seen others in the neighborhood.
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