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Seller Suggestion: Remove Bars on Windows, Increase Curb Appeal

By Michael Jacobs

Industry Observer CalDRE #01165532

August 22, 2012 12:59 PM

Seller Suggestion: Remove Bars on Windows, Increase Curb Appeal

When I read this article in the Pasadena Star News last week regarding the city of Rosemead and removing bars on windows, I thought it was another great item to put on a home selling checklist should the window bars exist on a property. Here's the article:

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_21321187/rosemead-makes-push-remove-blight-from-city-offers?IADID=Search-www.pasadenastarnews.com-www.pasadenastarnews.com

Bars on windows along with chain link fencing are two of the items that lower property values and give a neighborhood a less than pleasing appearance in my opinion. While not especially prevalent in most neighborhoods, window bars can be seen here and there -- must have been a trend from an earlier time that I am unfamiliar. I applaud the city of Rosemead for its stance to improve its neighborhoods' “curb appeal” and I am a strong proponent of removing bars on windows as well as the chain link fencing from the front yards of a home. If you are considering placing your home on the market for sale, I highly suggest this be a part of your home selling(before it hits the market for sale) checklist. I think you will enjoy the higher net proceeds to your bottom line and your neighbors will benefit as well. What do you think?

Michael Jacobs is a Realtor who serves the Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley as well as the Northeast Foothill communities within the city of Los Angeles and can be reached at 818.516.4393 cell or michaeljacobs@coldwellbanker.com.

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Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Greg - and it's relatively easy to have them removed and the difference is tremendous.

Aug 22, 2012 11:19 AM

Praful Thakkar

LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA

Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Michael, interesting read - I did not know that bars on windows decrease the property value. Incidently, I had requested my seller to remove bars from their windows - but it was just a fluke, I don't think I have 'that' taste....lol.

Aug 22, 2012 11:30 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Praful - in my opinion, window bars and chain link fencing in the front yard decreases not only the curb appeal of a property but that of the home and the surrounding homes. Not sure what happened with your seller...

Aug 22, 2012 11:53 AM

User 98342985

Ahousat, BC

Michael, great post! We have very few homes with bars over the windows here, but the chain link fences are common in older areas. When I think of window bars, I think of pawn shops and liquor stores, not homes. With chain link fences, I usually recommend that they keep the steel posts and upgrade to a low height cedar fence.

Aug 22, 2012 01:33 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Kayla -- while unattractive to me, chain link fences are not as bad as window bars which give a neighborhood a very industrial feel. Your comment associating window bars to pawn shops and liquor stores is a commonly held belief as well for many of my clients.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting --- the low height cedar fence option seems like a very good and much more attractive alternative to chain link fencing.

Aug 22, 2012 01:45 PM

Lanise Warrior-Johnson

Real Estate Brokers Services, Inc. - Compton, CA

Real Estate Specialist

Great article, I have experienced showing houses to buyers who become reluctant to pursue a property if the home has bars on the window, or if the surrounding homes have bars on the window. For buyers, its a indication that the neighborhood may not be safe.

Aug 22, 2012 01:47 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Lanise - whether the assertion is true or not, buyers' perceptions cannot be ignored. Thanks for commenting.

Aug 22, 2012 01:51 PM

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Bars on windows and doors are a red flag to many home buyers.

Aug 22, 2012 02:23 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

John -- most definitely -- one of the biggest red flags.

Aug 22, 2012 02:24 PM

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

Good morning Michael-Excellent thoughts on increasing the value of a home and bars just bring one thing to mind for the major of people. HIGH CRIME AREA. My Mom has a chain linked fenced back yard but it wouldn't look attractive in the front. It is rusted a lot in the back. I would rather have a wooden fence myself because of privacy reasons but it would also make it look more appealing.

Aug 22, 2012 10:38 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Sharon - when buyers see bars on windows, their thoughts immediately go to the issue of crime. We cannot talk about crime statistics directly but share places to find the information. Keeping your grounds(lot) private and secure is obviously very important and making it more appealing has so much of an positive impact. Have a great Thursday.

Aug 22, 2012 11:23 PM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Michael - Good point. Those bars on the windows certainly send a powerful message. Unfortunately, it isn't one that carries good news for most buyers, and would tend to make people feel less secure, rather than more.

Aug 22, 2012 11:49 PM

Morgan Evans

Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY

LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

I definitely agree that the bars on the windows is a sure fire way to turn off potential buyers.

Aug 23, 2012 12:25 AM

Will Nesbitt

Nesbitt Realty at Condo Alexandria - Alexandria, VA

Nesbitt Realty is a family-run brokerage.

Interesting tip Michael! Thanks for sharing this informative piece

Aug 23, 2012 01:05 AM

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty

Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL

Florida Space Coast Homes

Michael...is that a house or a jail? You are so right...it is all about selling the home and this would make a huge change.

Aug 23, 2012 01:12 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Morgan - letting sellers know the negative message the bars imply requires handling the discussion in a gentle yet persuassive way.

Will - you are welcome.

Jeffrey - the home does look a bit forbidding, doesn't it?

Aug 23, 2012 01:24 AM

Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale TahoeLauraRealEstate.com

Coldwell Banker Realty, Tahoe City, CA (530) 414-1260 - Tahoe City, CA

Tahoe Real Estate Agent Helping Buyers and Sellers

Michael - Great seller tips and suggestions. Removal of the bars from windows and the chain link fence from the front yard are ways to increase the value of the property right away. For more seller pre-listing marketing tips contact Michael Jacobs. He knows how to get top dollar for you property!

Aug 23, 2012 07:21 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Laura -- I think in many years of business I've only had to ask one seller client to remove window/door bars and they agreed. The house suddenly became much lighter and welcoming. I hadn't thought much about it until I saw the article about the city of Rosemead's effort to beautify the city. It makes sense to me to add this to the checklist when appropriate.

Aug 23, 2012 08:04 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Michael, there are a couple of houses on my block that have the burglar bars on the windows. They are occupied by little old ladies who have lived here since the days when the neighborhood had a funk factor that it lost about 30 years ago. I agree they look pretty awful.

Aug 23, 2012 11:51 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Pat -- I saw a new listing which was on our broker caravan today -- original owner since the late 1960s priced at 1.6 million -- what did I see in this 4000 square foot view home? Bars on windows. Go figure.

Aug 23, 2012 01:24 PM