I can't tell you how many times I have had conversations with homeseller's about why it is best to just handle putting in new carpeting or repainting prior to listing their homes.  Many times they tell me they would rather put those projects as a contingency believing that the new buyer would prefer to make those choices or changes themselves.  I then have to explain the benefits of taking care of these things so that they do not become something to bargain over at the closing table.  Not only that, but the fact of the matter is a buyer can only see the way it is, not the way it could be and this alone could cost you a sale.  Instead of visualizing your home with new paint, they could instead view another home that was freshly painted and put an offer on it as it was move in ready and took no imagination on the part of the buyer.  I once read a quote that was contributed to Albert Einstein, although I have never been able to verify the origins...it said "It takes 11 positive inputs to correct one negative input." 

I had a Realtor friend ask me to help her with a home she had on the market.  She needed my furniture movers.  I met her at the house and as she was opening the lock box I was asking her what we were going to be moving.  We entered the home and turned to the very first room on the right to see a beautiful baby grand piano...that is what needed to be moved.  I looked in to the room and on a side table sat a very professional looking card that read, carpeting to be replaced at the time of sale.  Almost like clock work...a dog appeared and immediately proceeded to urinate on one of the legs of the piano!  I nearly fell over...then if that wasn't enough...for added measure, he squatted to do additional business...right there...in front of us both he marked his territory and gave reason to why the carpet contingency clause was available. 

So based on Albert's quote...if we were to take both incidents separately...I (had I been a prospective buyer) would have needed 22 positive inputs from touring the house, to make up for the 2 very negative inputs or rather "OUT-PUTS" of the family dog.  You wouldn't have to be an Einstein to know that no contingency clause was going to persuade someone to make an offer on a house like that.  This was a home priced in the mid 7's.  Needless to say, the house remained on the market a very long time.  From what I understand...the seller's ended up leaving the house and taking the family dog with them.  The carpeting was replaced, but due to the fact that the home had been on the market for so long, the price was reduced dramatically as they needed to get it sold so they were no longer paying two mortgages.