Was the First April Fool a FSBO?

Hi Karen,
I think Maureen in #5 makes a great point by pointing out similar pictures in the MLS.  Lots of real estate agents propagate the same image you highlight. It is not an FSBO affliction but a lot of knowledge or effort.  Many of the FSBO pictures can be attributed to lack of knowledge.

Real estate agent assisted seller or FSBO seller could use assistance staging their home - no doubt. The title might scare them off though.

Mel

I'd have a real hard time exercising when there is a couch and a bed... both calling my name reminding me how comfortable and accepting they are me just the way I am!

Great post...hope you have a great April 1 day!!

That was great opening line. I am still LMAO. I really believe you hit it on the head it must have been a FSBO. They are fools, aren't they.

love the pictures & all your descriptions!!! funny stuff :)

OK I must be crazy but none of those pictures (except the last one) looked that bad to me.  Don't get me wrong I didn't think they were good -- but I guess I've seen so much worse. 

Unfortunately, the way some sellers think really isn't that funny.

Karen, personally this is like looking at photos of Walmart customers...sad/funny at the same time!

I actually got a kick out of this post and glad you got featured.

You failed to mention "I really don't have to sell."  Good post.

Forgive me, but I found the title to your blog a bit degrading and somewhat misanthropic. What you fail to realize is that despite having hired professionals, many non-FSBO's maintain these mindsets.

Good one. Wonder how many redblogs you will get on this post!

Wait, let me catch my breath!

OK, one of my colleagues took a listing today and it was priced at 2.6 by some knucklehead agent nd the pictures were like this. Well, not quite as bad. 

We priced it at 1.8 and are going to get real pictures with our guy who's been shooting for 25 years.

This seller is funnier than the drummer on Jimmy Fallon in a gorilla outfit right now!

I love this community! it keeps me UP and not down when the peaks turn to valleys!

AWESOME!

Karen, I've heard some of these more than once. Have yet to see the last one though. 

Frankly this makes me a bit uncomfortable. I am an agent and would dissuade 99% of FSBOs from making the largest transaction of their life a DIY project, but are these photos really that bad, or do they instead suggest some "stager hubris?"

I am not accusing you, but can you see how it might give ammo to someone who might not see your value? 

What is so terrible about a tidy, clean room with gleaming hardwoods that has blue curtains on the closets? A tile bathroom with brass and wallpaper? That's a faux pas? Blue wall to wall carpet renders a home unsaleable? If these are intended to be "before" pictures I have seen far worse in homes listed with a broker. 

This was so, so funny. Thanks for the great laugh. Made my day!

Hi Karen  Great pics-SO easy to see others' disillusions...To MIke @ 23, I agree, there are 2 points-FSBO sellers don't have the market cornered on being foolish.  Karen-your sub-point about the seller's mindset being one of the biggest obstacles is spot-on.

You have these photos because someone else either knew they needed to make changes, or-more than likely-you were called in after a property did not get the traffic/results the seller wants.

I undserstand where a few of the other responders are coming from-room not horrible, may be ok as is, seen worse-but Staging is about elevating a space, making it more appealing than where it is at that moment.  It's hyper-local. It also considers seller's needs/goals/expectations, and Realtor's pricing strategy.

Sellers who need to get out of Dodge are not going to be interested in taking down wallpaper and changing out fixtures...but the price will reflect that. Late last year I staged a condo that had been on the market for 6 months-little traffic and no offers. It was clean and no conditional issues-but it was firmly stuck in the 80's-pink, blue, mirrors, smoked glass lighting fixtures. Minor updates, maybe $6K (carpet, paint)- got asking $500K the first day back on the market, closed 6 weeks later.

It's not a bad thing to aspire to a higher level, and ALWAYS good to share these thoughts with a seller early-on-especially if changes being suggested are free to inexpensive. They may pass, and house might even sell with everyone happy. But if not-you are on the record as having covered that.

Karen--I just did a consult two days ago on a house that had just about every one of these issues.  I don't think I've ever seen so many unfinished projects and a full-sized refrigerator in the master bedroom.  But your last photo I have never seen.  What great "curb appeal."

To your defense, Karen, wallpaper in homes is often a huge issue for our buyers. It will cause them to move on to the next house, especially if the colors are also outdated. People on Florida do not like colored carpet, so a blue carpeted house, or one with different colors in every room, is again something that will keep the buyers moving on. Buyers who see houses with unfinished anythng wonder what's wrong with the house elsewhere and often are not interested. I know up north houses have dark carpet and different colors in rooms, but it is not looked on favorably here.

Sharon

I am late to the party-not been on AR-this is so funny girlfriend!!!