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New carpet can make a difference!

But why is it that they all want to "wait and see"? In Summit County, Colorado, home to several ski resorts, we have lots of ski condos and vacation homes. Many of them were built in the 1970s and 80s and there are a lot that have just had personal use from their owners, with no rentals. That often means that the dark brown carpet that was all the rage in 1979 is still in wonderful condition! Why replace perfectly good carpet? We do have a few perfectly good harvest gold refrigerators here and there too, but the carpet is much more common.

I have many stories that I tell my Sellers about instances where a condo had 20 or 30 showings, but no Buyers until the Seller replaced the carpet. Then it was gone in a week. Why is it that no one feels that it will apply to them; that their condo just has so many other good things going for it that the carpet won't matter? I just had it happen again, but now the new carpet is in (Realtor beige) and it should sell fairly quickly. They even took down the wallpaper that was held up with thumbtacks and painted the walls, so I think we are good to go!

It is priced at $269,900, in Wildernest, (near Silverthorne) within 20 minutes of 3 major ski areas. It is a great place for someone to use as a second home, and it has new carpet!

Posted by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson on 05/03/2007 11:05 PM

Comments (8)

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8 Comments on New carpet can make a difference!

Why don't sellers listen to us? I am always asked what can we do to make it look better? I give my opion and guess what, they never do it..

05/03/2007 11:16 PM

by Maria Brennan-MA North Shore Real Estate (Century 21 North Shore)

I have seen homes that have a complete change by simply changing the carpet. Adding 3,000 in carpet can mark a 15,000 difference.

05/03/2007 11:37 PM

by Justin Pintler ABR, CNE (Keller William Realty)

Joanne,

New Carpet and New paint makes a home completely different than before, it makes you feel that seems nearly new :) I can tell you that for experience :)

05/03/2007 11:47 PM

by Aurora Colorado Real Estate Ray Saenz, Colorado Realtor (United Property Brokers, INC)

New carpet, new paint, new fixtures, towel racks, lights ~~ etc etc. All these things make such a difference in separating a property from "the pack" and help to get it sold ~ particularly in this buyer's market where most of the country has lots of homes in competition for buyers.

Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin - The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty - Gold Canyon, Arizona

05/04/2007 12:37 AM

by Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Arizona Real Estate (The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty )

Okay, here is my carpet story.

Got a listing on a manufactured home that was built in the '70s. Original carpet... yikes! My FIRST piece of advice was to replace the carpets. I could get he whole place done by my regular guy for $2000 in two days. Sellers resisted.

I did all I could, but the listing languished for about 4 months. I finally made a deal with my sellers (since I was certain why the home was not selling). I told them that I would pay for the new carpet. If the home did not go into escrow within 14 days after the installation of the carpet, I would eat the cost. If it did go into escrow in that time, they would reimburse me for the cost.

I got the carpet installed and before the carpet guys left the unit, I had buyers in there that sat down and wrote an offer on the spot!

These folks had even visited the property a month or so earlier and were just revisiting everything available in the neighborhood. They were stunned at how different the home showed with the new carpet.

In addition to carpeting, interior painting is probably another most commonly overlooked potential sale maker that too many don't do.

05/04/2007 05:46 AM

by Robert Whitelaw, Broker, CEO, Realtor®, ePro (Whitelaw & Sons Real Estate Services)

One week after the new carpet went in, we have an offer, and a good one at that!

05/08/2007 11:19 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

Joanne,

Sometimes a simple, inexpensive fix can make a world of difference. Congratulations on the offer.

07/08/2007 10:44 PM

by Rita Taylor | Sanford NC Real Estate & Homes for Sale in Sanford North Carolina (Strother Real Estate)

Hi Rita, it is closed now, and I can say " I told you so!"

07/08/2007 10:52 PM

by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)

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