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All Babies Are Beautiful... But What If The Baby's Ugly?

By
Real Estate Agent with I.V.P.G. - Inland Valley Professional Group

Hi All,

Let's face it, if we were all given our druthers, there is not a one of us that wouldn't love to always have the most beautiful listing on the block.  And sometimes we do, sometimes the baby is beautiful... but sometimes, sometimes that baby is butt ugly, then what do you do? 

Well I don't know about you, but this one seems to be a no-brainer to me.  I believe in truth in advertising, I believe that honesty is the best policy and I believe that there is someone for everyone (which explains my ability to marry :-).  There is nothing that gets my spidey senses thrumming quite so quickly as inaccurate, misleading or just plain missing listing pictures. 

Sure, we all want to present our listing in its best light, but putting up one crummy picture shot from across the street and down the block or through enough filtering to make Grandma Moses look like Suri Cruise is not doing anyone any favors. 

And what does it say about you and your integrity if you are starting off your relationship with a potential buyer based upon a creative presentation of the information (read that lie)?

Even if the place is a wreck, saying or better yet showing its current condition is really the better way to go.  Think about it, what is your and your client's real goal?  is it to have everyone in the state calling you and trooping through the place, but not writing an offer because its not what they expected or wanted, or is it to have the folks who are looking for a property like this one to be able to find it quickly and easily?

Sometimes, we really do have to remember that pretty and ugly truly are in the eye of the beholder.  And this is especially true if the home's current owner is "Decorating Impaired".  They love their purple shag carpet and their orange walls and someone else might too.  As long as you prepare your seller for the prospect that the folks looking at their home might not e bthe creative visionaries that they are and will probably ask for a carpet and paint allowance, all should still be good.

So if you have the ugly baby on the block, present it with love, kindness and accuracy, let it's good points shine through, and rest assured that somewhere out there is someone who will see through its faults to the beauty within and will love it for what it is and not what it isn't.

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

 

Brett Noel
Keller Williams - Paso Robles, CA

Does the baby have a face that can make time stand still, or does the baby have a face that can stop a clock?

Jul 29, 2008 06:21 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Tisza- One of my daughters- her name is Tirzah. You have an unusual name too. IN this market we can not afford to take ugly listings.

Jul 29, 2008 06:23 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

If the baby is truly ugly you can say, oh he looks so much like the father.  LOL

If the listing is ugly say it.  There are buyers looking for them.

Jul 29, 2008 06:26 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Tisza:  What a very nice and kind way of looking at the tricky situation of marketing what we used to call a "critical property."  I would guess the way to sell it would be some combination of making some inexpensive changes that would help the property cosmetically, and then perhaps some buyer's incentives that will make up for the home being... visually impaired.  LOL.

Jul 29, 2008 06:37 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Tisza, for every "sow's ear" out there in the world there is at least one person that thinks they can make a "silk purse" out of it.  The key is being in the right place at the right time to wrestle that pig into the mud and then wash it off.

Jul 29, 2008 06:41 PM
Tisza Major-Posner
I.V.P.G. - Inland Valley Professional Group - Claremont, CA
DRE#01784679

Hi All,

Brett - Neither, I am going with "Body by God and a face to protect it with". LOL

Nestor & Katrina - Unique name for your daughter, was it family inspired as my is?  And, I hear you there but sometimes it is what it is and business is business.  Besides, if it is well and appropriately priced you should be able to slap a sold sign on that puppy pretty quick even in these trying times.  And you can always turn that to your advantage, show your next listing client a picture of the ugly place and tell them "If I can get this one sold, imagine what I can do for you".

Randy - Very funny! And I quite agree, there is nothing wrong with a "fixer" but it sure makes it a darn sight easier for all concerned if you know where on the fixer scale it falls - closer to carpet and paint or right on the cusp of knock it down and start from scratch.

Take care all, help lots of people, don't forget to check out Route66Living.com, and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

Jul 29, 2008 06:42 PM
Tisza Major-Posner
I.V.P.G. - Inland Valley Professional Group - Claremont, CA
DRE#01784679

Hi All,

Karen - Thank you.  I agree completely with your suggestions, and your description :-)

Charles - Yup, I call things that limit a homes appeal "Property Protectors" they protect the property from the folks that can't see past them for the folks that can.

Take care,

Tisza

Jul 29, 2008 06:45 PM
Cameron Novak
The Homefinding Center - 1000 Palms, CA
Real Estate Broker since 2008

The REOs I get from foreclosure banks always seem to give me the pig, and then slop to go with it.

Grossly overpricing and willing to let reasonable offers come and go.


Cameron Novak, Broker
The Homefinding CenterTM
Corona, California

Corona Real Estate Agents

Jul 29, 2008 06:46 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Tisza, I also know that they may babies cute so that they live---not sure how that applies to ugly houses though:)

Jul 29, 2008 06:51 PM
Tisza Major-Posner
I.V.P.G. - Inland Valley Professional Group - Claremont, CA
DRE#01784679

Hi All,

Cameron - Unfortunately, where REO's are concerned this is one of those situations where I would like to say that "Experience would be the best teacher" for them but it seems that the definition of insanity is more apropho "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result".

Charles - I'm not sure about that either...

Take care,

Tisza

Jul 29, 2008 06:55 PM
Nannette Turner
eXp Realty LLC - Lynchburg, VA
Online Marketing Home Ownership Advocate Specialis

Tisza calling a spade a spade is important.  If you try to make is something it isn't it is like putting lipstick on a pig.  It is still a pig.  Not bad if I were brokering pigs...  :-)

Jul 29, 2008 10:37 PM
Lee Jinks
Jinks Realty - McAllen, TX

I sold cars for a short time in the 80's.  Some of the salesmen would complain about some of the cars and how difficult they were to sell.  The sales manager said, "There's a butt for every seat."  I apply this idea to my listings.  I don't have to like it to sell it, because there is a buyer for every house.  Not everyone is looking for the same thing and there's someone out there that list listing would be perfect for.

Jul 29, 2008 11:35 PM
Tisza Major-Posner
I.V.P.G. - Inland Valley Professional Group - Claremont, CA
DRE#01784679

Hi All,

Nannette - You are so right, and in my neck of the woods they tend to sell a whole lot more lipstick than they do pigs :-)

Lee - I have heard that one too but had forgotten it, thanks for the reminder.

Take care all, help lots of people and have a nice day!

Tisza

Jul 30, 2008 04:02 AM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD

we have a listing right now that is so ugly you want to cry over it! our thoughts are it needs to be torn down - how are we going to list it? tell it just like it is - great location - wonderful lot - home needs MAJOR work -

Jul 30, 2008 06:55 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Tisza, Great post, when I was building I seen it all. One in fact was a orange kitchen counter top, my thoughts was, woah, wait until they try to resell the home. Wellll, they did put it on the market a few years later and it sold immediately, duh on my part.

Jul 30, 2008 07:21 AM
Shannon Ziccardi
"A Quick Note" ...in Tennessee! - Clarksville, TN
"A Quick Note" Mobile Notary ...in Tennessee!

To quote Flip Wilson:

 

"The ugly people KNOW who they are...[staring you dead in the eye he then adds]...don't they?" 

Aug 01, 2008 08:56 PM
Tisza Major-Posner
I.V.P.G. - Inland Valley Professional Group - Claremont, CA
DRE#01784679

Hi All,

Bill & Barbara Jo - And, that is what will help it find its buyer.

Duane - Thanks, They say there's no accounting for taste... sometimes explains a whole lot!

Shannon - LOL... Umm, no, not always... spandex clothing worn anywhere but in a gym is proof of that :-)

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

Aug 02, 2008 06:15 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

I agree that any property can be sold, depending on how it is priced.  An ugly home that needs work will definately not be listed for the same price as the same home in the same neighborhood that is super clean, has no defects, and is staged well.  However, one buyer may be interested in a fixer upper, and another buyer may be looking for move-in-ready.

Dec 17, 2008 01:10 PM
Alyce Martin
The Realty Group, LLC - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque - THE Place To Be!

What a cute post - sometimes I see "diamond in the rough" which sounds kinda 50's or something; I like "cosmetically challenged" myself.

Dec 17, 2008 01:33 PM