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Brand new but what a mess !

I don't know if this is going to be a complaint or an observation , maybe both. I recently have done walkthroughs with a customer of mine in new construction projects in my area. What is amazing are how many little things were either sloppily done or not clean or left undone. Is it arrogance or ignorance on the part of Developers to think the buyers in our market are going to just buy the product they have on display despite it's condition?

When I was in college I worked for a custom builder that even had us rake the yard and clean out the landscaping each day when we were done. There is somethinng to say about pride of workmanship, but now the lack there of is effecting their bottom line.

I have been to open houses with large globs of spackle on the wall which was painted over, holes in sheetrock, missing siding, dented appliances the list goes on and on. Heres a news flash BUYERS WANT BETTER! I wouldn't even consider walking into a car dealer and sitting in a brand new car with an empty soda can in the cup holder dirty napkins on the floor and mud on the seats. Can you hear the Car Salesman say " Oh, that was from the guys that built the car, we will have it cleaned before you take delivery. Or how about buying new pants with a gum wrapper in the pocket ?

I can't stress enough to my sellers the importance of the finished product. Wether you furnish it or not , clean it and keep it clean . Hire people to go in once a week just to look. I once had a woman almost blow lunch after she went into a bathroom in a brand new home to find something waiting for her in a toilet that she swore moved.

We may not be able to get every seller to price property where it needs to be but how about cleaning up the product a little. In these times you need to do whatever it takes to stand out so don't underestimate the power of a mop

There that wasn't so bad.

David Green

www.wildwoodsmls.com

Posted by David Green GRI on 02/20/2007 04:45 PM

Comments (7)

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7 Comments on Brand new but what a mess !

David, wow, you said it ... not so bad either. I understand all too well what your saying, a mop swung in the right direction can make or break a deal. Good post.

02/20/2007 06:58 PM

by Bob Sloop, Consultant, Indianapolis, IN (RS Mortgage Consulting)

Not only does it look unprofessional, unsightly, unfinished, but should raise a red flag about the unseen!

Pride of workmanship is so important.

02/21/2007 02:34 AM

by Deborah Burns ~ Seattle Real Estate Agent (BRIO Realty)

I took a client to a builders market home that is priced in the upper 20% of homes in my area. The ceiling in the kitchen had water damage and the patch job look like something my 11 year old son would do. When I gave feedback on the property I mentioned that the damage eliminated that home for my client and the responded that if it was an issue just write it into the offer to repair it!

02/21/2007 07:12 AM

by James Gordon REALTOR® PBD SRS (Sibcy Cline Realtors®)

I wonder if it is a statement of where we are as a culture or is it the results of such a heated market where the sentiment was " well, if you don't buy it someone else will and make money " .

02/21/2007 07:42 AM

by David Green GRI (RE/MAX at The Shore)

David-

I think it is so frustrating when builders/ investors don't realize how even the smallest imperfections impact a buyers view of the property. I had an investor who insisted on open houses - despite the fact that the unit was in shambles. I mentioned how poorly the project comes across and there was no sense of understanding.

02/21/2007 08:24 AM

by Heather Saul (Weichert Realtors Hoey Group)

Dave, You really hit this one on the head. I've been visiting alot of open houses in your area recently, and I'm frequently appalled by what I encounter, particularly with the new construction projects. I was recently in a multi million dollar listing and I couldn't help but feel that the developer had tried to finish the project "on the cheap".....not to mention the general lack of cleanliness and so forth.....

02/25/2007 07:10 PM

by Tom Giansante (The Title Company of Jersey)

I happened to go through a project this Saturday in Wildwood Crest. It's called the Hawaii Kai on the corner of Faragut and Ocean . It was a nice change because of the fact that although the project is still being finished, there was a very nice sample unit completely furnished and decorated to fit the area and building. What really struck me was how the common areas were kept clean and free of garbage and "stuff". There were no piles in the Parking garage or soda bottles filled with that new "yellow coke" lining the stairwell. I remembered that peoperty when I was emailing a few clients Sunday afternoon just because it made a lasting impression on me.

Hat's off to those making the effort to make our job easier.

Dave Green

www.wildwoodsmls.com

02/26/2007 08:46 AM

by David Green GRI (RE/MAX at The Shore)