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Who Buys A House Because They Feel Sorry For It?

I've always been a cheerleader of the underdog, a supporter of the helpless. I feel bad for the person who doesn't fit in or is standing alone at a social event.

I loved when Harry Higgins turned Eliza Doolittle into My Fair Lady

and when

Cinderella got transformed for the ball.

Little Miss No Name

I remember a doll, back when I was a kid that had huge sad eyes and a tear on her cheek.

She wore a dress of burlap with patches,

and she was called "Little Miss No Name."

She was produced by Hasbro in 1965 and was supposed to appeal to little girls' nurturing instincts. Little girls were supposed to feel sorry for her and want to take her in and care for her,

much like

Charlie Brown did with the sad little twig he chose for his Christmas tree.

Charlie Brown's twig was transformed into a real Christmas tree with a blanket and some decorations.

Little Miss No Name was not so lucky. Turns out her over sized eyes were frightening to many little girls. Even if you made her some new clothes, those eyes and her tear were permanent, she could never be made happy.

I remember wanting that sad little doll, but once I got her home and couldn't transform her, couldn't improve her appearance, she ended up under the bed somewhere. She was just too depressing!

If there had been new clothes and accessories available and a way to make her expression happy...I believe she would have been more popular. What girl doesn't love a make-over?

Emotion is often used in an attempt to solicit money...sad little puppies that need a home, hungry children that need food. We as humans want to help, want to fix, want to improve.

kitchen before

As home buyers, we don't want a home that needs help, needs to be fixed, or needs to be improved.

What buyers want in a home is move-in ready.

As a professional home stager I have seen many Little Miss No Name houses on the market.

Kitchen After Unlike the doll, these houses can be transformed.

My passion is transformation... improving the appearance of anything, anyone. I love it.

No surprise that I would choose home staging as a profession.

Actually, I think it chose me.

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Posted by Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager on 09/24/2008 01:04 PM

Comments (34)

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34 Comments on Who Buys A House Because They Feel Sorry For It?

SEP

2008

Sharon~ In 1965, I was about 7 or 8 years old and I never saw or remember the doll "Little Miss No Name." I am alot like you and love to befriend the one's that seem left out and are not so popular! I love your comparison of the house with no name!

Hi Sharon,

Thank you for a nice story. I, like you have a sweet spot for the underdog. I think that is why I work at Credit Restoration Consultants. Helping people who have had some bad luck for reasons out of their control make me feel good. There is nothing like taking a client (sad home) and making them complete again(a transformed home). After all when we repair their credit they can then purchase their dream home whether it is a sad sack or a model home.

Regards,

Lori Isaacson

Sharon - I've never heard of "Little Miss No Name". She would be a rather depressing doll. I feel sorry for the underdog, too. Good comparison to the house! :)

We bought a repo house a few years ago, which had been on the market awhile and no one wanted it. It WAS ugly, but when we looked around, it was cosmetic things- fixable, the house had good bones. We got it for $115,000, have put some money into fixing it up, and even in this market we still owe WAY less than the current value. I love fixer-uppers.

Hey Sharon, I think that we bought one of those underdog houses several years ago. I think we felt sorry for it ;-( but we did see potential and it did turn out beautiful just with a PRICE that was not expected.. God bless,

Vickie Thanks for the comment. I don't think the doll was that popular, I'm not surprised you don't remember it.

Lori Helping someone else is the greatest satisfaction. I love knowing that my work can make the difference in someones house selling. Your work sounds very fulfilling. Those people are lucky to have you helping them.

Debi The initial response to the doll is sympathy and wanting to take care of her...but that wears off real fast. When given the choice of her or Barbie with the house and car and outfits with matching shoes...please...no comparison!

I love the comparisons you made. I think that some people love to perform the make-over. They are the flippers and the people who buy a horrible house because they can see the potential. However I think more people perfer to see Cinderella. They may not be able to envision the changes, they may be afraid of hidden costs and/or they may not have a place to live while massive changes are being made. Perhaps they are too busy to deal with making changes or it is something that just overwhelms them. For the second group, there are stagers.

Sharon~ I wil tell you one doll I do remember and wish I could find one now! Do you remember thumbellina?? I loved that doll! Did you have one of those?

SEP

2008

Sharon,

Yes it is fulfilling. Even if I do not even sign up a client I enjoy educating them on the importance of knowing what is on their credit reports..thanks for the kind words.

Happy Tursday!!!Lori

Leslie That is fantastic! Good for you! My daughter got a great deal on her condo because it looked as bad as it did. It was a lot of work, but she has a cute little place now. My son is in the process of getting a great deal too, because the house he put an offer on is so dated. Deals are there for the buyers, but the sellers are throwing money away by not making a few improvements.

Cheryl Buyers have to be very careful when they think they are getting a deal, hidden costs of improvement can be a very unpleasant surprise.

Vicki It's true, most can't see the potential. Actually only about 10 percent can visualize the house any other way than how they see it. People who can see the potential can get a great deal.

Vickie I loved Thumbelina, one of my favorites!

Sharon with Thumbelina and baby brother Here I am with my brother and Thumbelina!

Do you remember Baby Secret? Baby Secret Doll Cheerful Tearful? They were two others I loved.

Cheerful Tearful Doll

Insightful post, Vicky thanks. I've never really thought about someone buying a house because they felt sorry for it before, but I suppose it does happen with certain types of people.

SEP

2008

Sharon- I guess most people could tell by my menagerie (3 cats and 2 dogs) that I am a sucker for anything unwanted. And, when it comes to houses, I prefer older ones because they have a history, but I still like them move-in ready. No Tom Hanks fixer-upper for me!

Can't say the alien doll is very appealing. But, I LOVE the shot of you! Ah, the short bangs and pin curls! I was given my Thumbelina for Christmas when I was 5. My dad made a wooden bed for her, and my mother sewed bedding for it. I still have her, though I cut her hair and chewed off her finger. She means the world to me.

DJ Thanks for commenting!

Elaine You always make me laugh! You "chewed off her finger" had me really laughing. At least you still have yours. I only have an original Barbie of mine. I wish I had the others. I was very lucky and had many dolls, don't know what happened to them.

SEP

2008

Amazing what a transformation we can make with just paint. Good job, and nice post.

Love your new paint color choice. Gives the space a fresh feel and certainly removes the sadness you were referring to.

Terrylynn and Michele Adding color added life and made such a difference! Too bad for the seller that they didn't put a little effort up front, they could have received a much higher bid. Thanks for the comments.

Sharon - you certaily know how to paint with your words. Great anlogy.

I too had Thumbalina and so many other dolls - Toodles the original walking doll, Betsy Wetsy, Ginny - They all went south when Mom and Dad moved???? I never saw that sad doll with the tears so I guess I never wanted her. (no rescue mentality here - does that make me bad?)

It's so true Sharon when buyers think that they are getting such a deal. These repairs sneak up on them and they can't afford it.

SEP

2008

You gave that kitchen a memorable image. Great color job. Sometimes a BIG color is better than one of those shy ones, and this is it!

Sharon, your title really drew me in. I think that this may be a title article in one of my future RE agent newsletters...it's so true. I can think of an exception:the use-to-be beautiful and historical victorian or georgian that has fallen into disrepair. That type of house is a money pit and buyer's rarely realize what they are really getting into but they usually want to SAVE the house and isn't that commendable, but also the exception!

I still have my Betsy Wetsey and my 3' don't know her name doll. Grandkids love them. Great analogy.

Judy Thanks for the kind words. I think because my parents threw out my things, I have been quite the pack rat with my kids' toys. I have many of my kids' favorite toys in the attic waiting to pass them on to grand babies. "No rescue mentality" does not make you "bad" Judy! You rescue people in your business every day!

Scott I feel so bad for those buyers...they just don't know what they are getting into.

Paula Thanks! I appreciate your positive feedback! The kitchen really came alive when the color was added.

Ginger It takes a special person to rescue a historical house. That special person needs a lot of money! We are so lucky that there are people to do it, what a great loss it would be to lose all that history if they didn't take on the project.

SEP

2008

I spilled half of my grapefruit juice all over the desk when I read your title. I must admit that I have bought many a home because I felt sorry for it. Then, when I renovated it and sold it, I wasn't feeling so sorry for it anymore.

Russell Sorry about the juice! I'm happy I made an impression, though! Spilling people's juice is what this blogging is all about!

Sharon, Buying a house because you feel sorry for it is not a great idea...I would know. My husband and I found a beautiful property buy felt sorry for the house...now we feel sorry for ourselves. Kinda like the shoe makers kids going shoeless, we haven't had time to completely fix the house.

The colour you choose for the kitchen really makes the cabinets pop.

OCT

2008

Kimberley I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so overwhelmed. I hope you are able to make it the home of your dreams and look back on the purchase as a good decision. Thank you for the compliment on the color choice.

OCT

2008

Hi Sharon, You are so right "turn key" is what most people are looking for!!! I'm in agreement w/ the others Sharon, great color choices.

On the other hand, I think I remember that 'No name Doll', it was kinda scary. I love that picture of you w/ the beautiful white jacket, such a cutie you are. Your brother in the picture looks the same size of your Thumbelina doll.

I like how you put it Sharon - "my passion is transformation" - great line!

Cynthia That doll was pretty big, I think it was about the size of my brother! I loved how it moved around like a real baby. Thanks for being by biggest "vintage photo" fan! I appreciate all your comments.

Karen It is my passion, I love the process. I remember being fascinated with makeovers as a child. Thanks for the comment.

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