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Need to sell a house? Sell your street!

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Real Estate Sales Representative with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Need to sell a house? Sell your street!

A while ago, I was showing  a property to my buyers in Natick, MA. It was quite a good fit for most of their criteria, location being first on the list. They knew this particular house would need work, but price reflected that, and all other variables seemed to be met.

Yet once we arrived at the house and got out the car I saw faces elongating, shoulders shrugging, and overall reluctancy.

What's the matter?  - I asked

Turned out, buyers didn't like the look of the street. It's a small dead end street, and to be honest it did look somewhat run down. 

But it wasn't! There were about 3 houses close to each other - and to the property for sale - that had unkept (or questionable) lawns, some old wood piled up. Truth be told, house for sale could also have benefitted from some landscaping spruce up.

Here's the thought:

When you are selling, and have a feeling that properties next to you might make not the best first impression, is it possible to approah this as a team? Say, if your street and neighbors are on friendly terms, ask them if they would like to hire a service together. It would be cheaper per household, yet results would be great for everybody. 

It can be a simple lawn maintenance. The highest fee is for getting out there, actual charge for mowing and fertilizing is much smaller. 

As you can see, I showed that property a while ago - Summer into Fall season, hence the lawn talk. Yet same applies to current conditions, and all the snowstorms of late. A commonly hired plowing service could clear off everybody's driveway for example. The street would immediately look nice and "put together". 

 

Posted by

Anna Glebova

REALTOR®

If you are looking for an agent to help you buy or sell a home

in Brookline / MetroWest Area

give me a call: (617)966-7949 

Brookline, Framingham, Natick, Newton, Sudbury, Wellesley, Wayland and more 

Anna Glebova on Zillow
Show All Comments Sort:
Tommy Taylor
Taylor Properties & TexasForSale.net - Kerrville, TX
CNE- Texas Hill Country Realtor

That's thinking outside the box. Hope more people read this and can help advise sellers in need.

Jan 26, 2011 04:05 PM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA - Eureka, CA
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA

Hi Anna, excellent input for sellers in this market.  Thanks for sharing the experience.

Jan 26, 2011 04:06 PM
Suzanne Taylor
Ultima Real Estate - Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi, TX
Home Sales In Corpus Christi, TX

Good idea, have run into the same problem myself, the neighborhood can definitely make a difference in the buyer's interest.

Jan 26, 2011 04:06 PM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

Tommy, thanks! Wonder if anyone has ever done this before?

Jan 26, 2011 04:06 PM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Pretty good idea, and certainly worth thinking about!  Also a good reminder that it's important for the LA to take a good look at the street also!

Jan 26, 2011 06:03 PM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

Dan, I'm glad whenever I can help

Suzanne, if only neighbors are up to the challenge...

Alexsandra, lucky you in LA :) Well, in a few months we'll see some green, too!

Jan 27, 2011 03:18 PM
Matt Stigliano
Kimberly Howell Properties (210) 646-HOME - San Antonio, TX

Anna - Great advice.  Of course, it hinges on the fact that they all get along, which isn't always the case.  I think with enough calm, logical explanation it can help the sellers (and the neighborhood).  I would have them approach it with dollars and sense.  Talk to the neighbors and help them understand that the more they sell their house for, the more the other homes are worth.  Some simple cleanup on everyone's part will increase the value of all the homes.  Who doesn't like to hear that?

Jan 30, 2011 11:11 PM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA
Matt, I guess proactive approach and willingness to compromise is important. Say, one can approach neighbors armed with info on a good service provider, how much they charge and what would they do for that money, and be open for suggestions if neighbors want to use a different company. There is of course a fair amount of negotioations involved, and it helps if all parties go along beforehand. There might be complications. Yet, if one could just keep that in mind as a possbility...
Jan 31, 2011 10:28 AM