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This house makes my butt look fat! 10 things buyers say! (and what they really mean)

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Realty world Alliance

This house makes my butt look fat! 10 things buyers say! (and what they really mean)

I decided a long time ago that I could never buy a sporty bright yellow car.  I have an olive complection and yellow just makes me look dead.  Even though those cute vehicles catch my eye everytime I see one, I could never imagine driving around town looking dead...

Although I have made this silent pact with myself, I have never actually

sports car

shared this information with anyone else.  It is just way too embarrasing to share that I am so self centered that I am concerned that my car compliments my complection.

I mention this because I am amazed at the things that buyers will say outloud when rejecting a home.  In Wichita, kansas there are so many choices that buyers are looking for the "perfect" home before they decide on the "right" home.  In an effor to keep looking, I have heard some pretty interesting things.  My top 10 favorites are below....

10.  "They keep it too clean!" 

 9.  "There are way too many windows!" 

 8.  "The grass is too thick!  Let's keep looking"

 7.  "Can't live here! I'd be the redneck of the neighborhood"

 6.  "How many bathrooms can one house have?  Seriously?"

 5.  "If I can't buy the furniture with it, I can't buy this house!"

 4.  "The dog is the deal breaker.  If we can't keep the dog with the house, we will move on."

dog

hippo butt

 3.  "I sense someone dies here.  I can't live in a house that someone died in!"

 2.  "I don't want to have to do a THING.  and these carpets need to be cleaned!"

 1.  "this house makes my butt look fat!"

 

 

 

 

I had to ask many questions (with a straight face) to find out what the buyer actually meant.  For clarity, I have included that here too:

10.  "I would warm it up a little with a rug or some color"

 9.  "I am security conscience and don't feel safe with the whole back of the house being windows"

 8.  "I have 3 dogs and it would break my heart to see them ruin this beautiful yard"

grass

 7.  "I never thought I would be able to afford such a nice area."

 6.  "We are moving from a one bath home, the idea of 3 baths is overwhelming to me"

 5.  "I fear I won't like the house as much with my 1970's plaid sofa in it"

 4.  "I really don't want the house, but my daughter does.  So I am adding a term to the contract so I am not the bad guy."

 3.  "I don't like this house even though it is everything I told you I wanted."

 2.  "I don't know if they'll clean up and replacing the carpet is not in my budget"

 1.  "the doorways to the bathrooms are small and I feel like I have to turn sideways to go through them"

small doorway

when you break it down like that, some pretty valid reasons! 

Happy real-estating!

 

 

 

Michele Rose
Rose-Colored Staging - Mount Holly Township, NJ
Burlington County Home Staging & Redesign

Brenda, what a fun post!  But I don't know if I could've kept my mouth shut at the "big butt" remark!  I'd have had to say, "Sweetheart, it ain't the house!"

Sep 29, 2011 10:49 AM
Rob Kittle
Kittle Real Estate - Fort Collins, CO
"We Specialize, You Benefit!" -Kittle Real Estate

Familiar words from buyers... Thanks Brenda, clarification on what they meant is very important and what are the things we can do to make this home the right home for our buyers. Happy Real Estating!

Sep 29, 2011 11:48 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great post!!  Congrats on the well deserved feature!

Sep 29, 2011 11:51 AM
Win Home Inspection
National Home Office - Madison, AL

Well that headline caught my attention! Thanks for the laughs today.

Sep 29, 2011 12:18 PM
Anonymous
Miah Kattman
I heard a new one at an open house recently and I had to call my mom (we work together) so I could give here a laugh. We have a really great ranch in a low price point. It has three (3!) sliders to a gorgeous level yard throughout the house and one low large window in the front. But a single female buyer came through and said she has a small dog and the dog would not like the window height of the other windows. Holy cow! Now she is making up insane thoughts that I am quite sure her dog would not be thinking. I say, keep on moving, lady! Chances are your dog will never be happy!! :)
Sep 29, 2011 12:59 PM
#19
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

This just tells me they are not ready to buy. If and when they get serious maybe they need to be on the backburner.

Sep 29, 2011 02:48 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTORĀ®
This was a fun read! Thanks for sharing the hilarious drama with us!
Sep 29, 2011 03:20 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

THere are so many crazy reasons excuses buyers can use....often the answer is that really aren't ready to buy.

Sep 29, 2011 04:22 PM
Sandy Acevedo
951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA
RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

Love this post. It is so funny, but true.                                        

Sep 29, 2011 06:39 PM
Valerie Baker
Exit Real Estate Professionals - Spokane, WA
Spokane Realtor

Love it! :) I guess "interpreting" should be part of our job description! 

Sep 29, 2011 06:44 PM
Valarie Swanson
CENTURY 21 Award - San Diego, CA
San Diego Real Estate

I'm so glad you interpreted those comments. You're right, they were valid points when the client finally communicated in a language you could understand. Thanks for posting. I really enjoyed it.

Sep 29, 2011 07:36 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

This is just too funny Brenda.  Here's an additional one I saw on TV recently:  "I'll have to change all the toilets, some one has already sat on them!"

Sep 30, 2011 01:01 AM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

This is over the top. .how big was this lady's butt?  . .comparing it to a house? 

This is the only time you can say this to sell it. . "but, McDonald's is around the corner. .. "

Sep 30, 2011 01:04 AM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

You will look good in a red convertible. . trust me on this!

Sep 30, 2011 01:05 AM
Melissa Ostrom & Melville Capps Newton MA - The Mel and Mel Team
(617) 388-3151 | Century 21 Commonwealth - Newton, MA

Brenda, funny and entertaining post, but you also give a valuable lesson. You didn't just take what the buyer said at face value. You spoke with them and found out what they really meant, and that will help in finding the buyer the right house.


Melville Capps

Sep 30, 2011 01:07 AM
Karl Hess
Keller Williams Shore Properties - Barnegat, NJ
on The Jersey Shore

Great post on discovering the TRUE objection, not the one vocalized.

Sep 30, 2011 01:15 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

Thanks for the amusing post today.   I enjoyed the read and have bookmarked it for future reference.

 

Patricia Aulson/ Seacoast NH & ME REALTOR

Sep 30, 2011 03:12 AM
Gabrielle Jeans
WebTech Dezine, Gabrielle Jeans Real Estate Coach - Toronto, ON
Real Estate Web Solution, Real Estate Trainer and Coach

Everyone needs patience when dealing with clients in every business. The real estate business requires a lot more patience from Realtors because you have to completely customize your client's desires and the process can be a frustrating one. I enjoyed reading your post.

Sep 30, 2011 03:19 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Next time you need to bring the"skinny" mirrors with you!

Thanks for an entertaining post.

Margaret

Oct 01, 2011 11:41 AM
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Nov 21, 2011 05:58 AM
#35