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Love Your Neighbors? Even If They Talk Trash About Your Home?

By Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind

Real Estate Broker/Owner with KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate

July 29, 2010 12:26 AM

Neighbors. They say it how it is. And they are the best resource - if you want to know anything about an area - ask the neighbors.

Vacant house -- open house.

Here come the neighbors -- just snooping, curious, nosey, wondering about the floor plan, did the kids finally leave home, where did the Seller go, etc.

Here comes the input - why didn't they finish the tile, it's dirty, you know the husband died here, they didn't get permits for that addition, they have a huge bat problem, bad choice of flooring, cheap appliances, needs work, I think the laundry room caught fire once ... you know ... we hear alot.

Here comes the Seller at the end of the open - good traffic, lots of info handed out, your neighbors visited too. Really? Who? Oh I know so and so - love them - nice people - what did they think?

They are nice people - loved the neighbors. So how do you tell the owner they talked trash about their house?

People are sensitive about their homes. And they value their neighbors. Best advice to keep a balance?Be tactful:

if the input is constructive, is something that is within the Sellers means to change or fix, if it is helpful and/or could improve or impact the sale of the house - share it.
be careful how you share the information - think before you speak, turn a negative into positive, and don't be sarcastic
learn how to generalize - don't pin any specific comment to any specific neighbor

Most of all, just be kind and honest with your Seller - they already know the truth about their homes - how it's presented makes all difference!

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Barbara Michaluk

Weichert Realtors | Phone Direct 240-506-2434 | 301-681-0550 office - Silver Spring, MD

Leisure World Specialist / Full Service REALTOR

Gabrielle, Yes nosey neighbors will give an earful at open houses but I love them. They also pass the word along to potential buyers and we can use that to our advantage.

Jul 29, 2010 12:28 AM

Jenny Hellman

RE/Max Results - Floyds Knobs, IN

I agree. Neighbors are a good source...but talk to several of them. Just one opinion may not be too accurate.

Jul 29, 2010 12:42 AM

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

Gabrielle, we have a new community that suffered heavily from the over building of a few years ago. Lots of investors and now lots of renters. The HOA has gotten stricter and many of the renters are grumbling and saying some pretty bad stuff about the community. But, in reality, it has improved tremendously.

Jul 29, 2010 12:45 AM

Richard Iarossi

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD

Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Gab,

Trash talking is a time honored tradition at open houses. You can get boatloads of information from the neighbors though. Renters too toss out all kinds of goodies.

Rich

Jul 29, 2010 12:46 AM

Kenneth Cole

Weichert Realtors Appleseed Group, 2043 Richmond Ave. S.I.N.Y. 10314. office phone 718-698-9797, Appleseedhomes.com... - Staten Island, NY

NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Gabrielle; Among other things, Realtors need to be diplomatic. Another quality to master.

Jul 29, 2010 12:51 AM

Sally Dunbar

Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA

Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Gab - I bet you know how to be quite tactful with your sellers. And it IS amazing what the neighbors will tell you.

Jul 29, 2010 02:02 AM

Lewis Beynon

CENTURY 21 Triangle Group - Raleigh, NC

Lew B Realty

Great post Gab - I always say there were some nosy-neighbors but didn't catch their names. That helps prevent a "Hatfield and McCoy" outbreak!!!

Lewis

Jul 29, 2010 04:11 AM

Mario Jannatpour

RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville, Colorado - Louisville, CO

Author of the Book, "The Honest Real Estate Agent"

Were you at one of my Open Houses? Great post and right on the money :)

Jul 29, 2010 10:32 AM

Dan and Amy Schuman

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Solon, OH

Luxury Home Specialists

Hi Gab, neighbors are great, aren't they? In our experience, they are a wealth of information and can sometimes spread the word about the home. I'll tell my sellers that neighbors came by but leave it at that. Hope all is well.

Jul 30, 2010 09:48 AM

Noah Levy

Coldwell Banker - Highland Park, IL

Coldwell Banker Highland Park IL

I find that many of my sellers do not a public open house for this reason - I always encourage it by saying that yes your neighbor may stop by but you never know if they have a friend who is looking for a home.....

Aug 01, 2010 03:24 AM

Aaron Vaughn 830-358-0455

Conifer Builders LLC - Canyon Lake, TX

Gabrielle: I like this post, but don't know that I agree with you when you say that sellers already know the truth about their homes. Many I meet don't seem to know, or are in denial. =)

Aug 02, 2010 03:54 AM

Joni Bailey

101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX

Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

In our area, neighbors often sell the house for us. They have friends who have visited over a holiday weekend and mention that they would love to have a place here.

They also talk TRASH. Thanks for the advice on how to turn a negative into a positive!

Aug 07, 2010 05:31 AM

Mark Brian

Silver Star Real Estate LLC - Anderson, SC

Anderson SC Realtor

I would find some way to politely let my client know what their "friends" said. It might help to solve any condition issues that would prevent a sale.

Aug 10, 2010 01:48 AM

Love Your Neighbors? Even If They Talk Trash About Your Home?

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Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind

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