If You Really Want to Sell Your House, Remove Your Confederate Flag

Anything that might be divisive should be removed.  I remember touring a home one time and seeing pics of the owners with Joe Biden.  That started a whole conversation that never had to occur...which over shadowed the home.

I applaud you for addressing this. A homeowner must realize no matter what they have up: the flag, crosses, or any other items that might turn off a potential buy is a risk. Heck, I had one that had to take down naked people as she was part of a nudest area. It is all about how fast you want to sell the home

Jim Miner comment #92. 

Bingo!  Just as the seller has a choice to put whatever they want in their home, a listing agent has the right to not take the listing.

Personally, I have no attachment to the "flag" at the heart of the controversy, I grew up in Houston and no one in my family displayed the flag or made it a part of our "heritage."  But a seller might and in this case it seems like they do.  Tammie White  posted this, stated she doesn't know them or the story.  She didn't say she had actually viewed this home.  She stated in her post that she "saw the photo in MLS while searching comps."

There's more to this story than "meets the eye" from a photo seen on MLS.  In the location of Franklin, TN, it's highly UNLIKELY that a Confederate flag displayed as an artifact along with photos of Confederate soldiers, is the CAUSE of 3 years on the market.

We all know how to sell a house and/or stage it. On the other hand, if I walked into a home and saw KKK memoribilia, I would turn around and walk out, no words needed. 

Good morning Tammie White,

I just read the post from Alan May and can't believe I hadn't read your post but with my schedule lately I haven't been able to read the numbers of posts I usually do in the Rain! You stirred the hornets nest on this one for sure. In my opinion Alan is right "It's about making your product (your property) appealing to the largest potential group of buyers." When you make the decision to sell you now have a product to sell and want the widest range of buyers to be attracted. Your home....your choice.....choose the best marketing plan available to accomplish your goals!

Only one word comes to mind, "agree" ... so that's how I will leave it. I also do think Joy Baker nailed a point -- you knew the right button to push to get those comments going. Although I am not sure it was your intent, you did it! In marketing, it's a great quality to possess.

I'm sure some will find my comments below offensive, but I think it needs to be stated.  While I understand the agent's intent, as it applies to selling a house, we all need to understand that . . .

Whenever anyone tramples on MY right, then it ceases to be their "right."

This is just simple courtesy, folks. 

Example:  You have the right to dislike the way I dress (the flag I display, my religion, the car I drive, my furniture, the weapons I own, my art, my books, etc.) and find it offensive, but I have an equal right to dress as I choose.  If you attempt to remove my clothes and replace them with what you deem appropriate, then you would be violating my right.

Sharia law would do exactly that, and force me head to toe in a burka, deny me any voice, strip me of all freedom to exist in society, and murder or rape me with impunity if I rebelled.

Wake up people . . . are you smelling the rat yet?

You could argue that I should give up my rights, but why are your rights more

important than mine?  That is a debate for a different post.

People who want to re-write our history, have some evil motives, which involve destroying our nation's foundation of freedom.  History is not to be destroyed, regardless of the atrocities, it is to be examined, understood and accepted for the lessons it has to teach. 

In a short generation since WWII, there are people who deny the existence of the Holocaust, because it is offensive.  Yes, I agree, it is indeed offensive whenever a government is allowed to strip the rights of millions and commit genocide; it is a monstrous evil, which we must learn from.  Since we have not learned the lesson, it is now being shockingly repeated. 

We are a country that loves freedom, but that concept is frightening to someone who was raised without it or doesn't understand the need for it.  So, the reaction is offense.

The Bible has some good advice:

Ecc 7:9 "Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bossom of the stupid ones."  [fools, uninformed, uneducated, lacking wisdom, etc. etc.]

I suppose someone will take offense at God’s words, and next want to start destroying it.  He hasn’t reacted yet, but I don’t think He’ll take it very kindly.

As an American, born and bred, I firmly refuse to be bullied by the PC crowd, who may not completely understand the broader implications of their "political correctness."

I think many Americans feel likewise and would not welcome agents and other service providers into their home, if they sense this kind of disrespect for their values.  They're usually too polite to say so, but something to consider, if you didn't get the listing or the job.

Any business who denies my "rights," I will deny them my money and recommendation to friends.  I've already given up Target and other corporations for those reasons.

I suppose the FSBO market will continue to expand if agents fail in this regard.

Home staging should not replace the rights of the owner, or make them feel offended in their own home.  The owner's need to sell the home should take precedence, not the agent's.  The agent is there to facilitate the sale, not to dictate it.

I cant believe in 2015 that this is even a question. You dont see descendants of dead Nazis flying Swastikas. You have the RIGHT to fly any flag you want and everyone else has the RIGHT to consider you as they do. Being a pariah is a choice, enjoy.

I found it interesting that the feelings regarding the flag haven't changed much in the past 15 years, according to a recent poll and as reported on CNN.

Still, the perception of the flag- and what it symbolizes to various groups are pretty significant. For those who want data here is one section I found interesting:

"Among African-Americans, 72% see the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism, just 25% of whites agree. In the South, the racial divide is even broader. While 75% of Southern whites describe the flag as a symbol of pride and 18% call it a symbol of racism, those figures are almost exactly reversed among Southern African-Americans, with just 11% seeing it as a sign of pride and 75% viewing it as a symbol of racism."

My last name is Hungarian.

Therefore I am a slav.

The word "slave" comes from the slavs. 

Slavs were used for millenia as slaves by the Romans, Vikings, Moors and what we now call Arabs.  Why?  Because they made the best slaves - smart, obedient, loyal.

That crown on the Coat of Arms is the crown of St. Stephen, worn by all the Hungarian kings who were complicit in the selling and trading of THEIR OWN PEOPLE as slaves.  My people.  My heritage.

There.  My horrible secret is out.  But I am purified and cleansed by my confession. 

Are you offended by that flag?

If so, stop living in a past that cannot be changed.

Oh, sorry.  On another reading I see the post isn't about flags.  Sorry.

The post was excellent Tammie.

Good morning, Tammie White good advice for all sellers to remove those items that could be very offensive to others.... 

Did you hear the AMEN choir from Atlanta? 

Tammie White I think you are going to find many sellers will not care whether a potential buyer appreciates the Confederate Flag flapping in the wind. No more so, than the religious icons that you noted. I think we may find that sellers refusing to remove the Confederate Flag display may be exercising a subliminal hint to some potential buyers to keep shopping.

Very interesting post and comments.  Clients do not always follow advice from licensed professional advisors. I think the advisor should inform the client of potential risks and negative consequences of not following the recommended advice.  Then the client should make an informed decision on how to proceed.  The advisor should document the advice given and the client's decision.

Medical professionals ask the patient to sign an "Against Medical Advice" form.  They must be careful when terminating medical advice to avoid charges of abandonment.

There will soon be a time in this country where you will wish this flag was flying, because it will be a reminder of how a once great nation fell to Political Correctness.

Tammy, that's sort of like putting an "Anybody for President" yard sign up.  Not the best staging prop.