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Sell It Like It Is!

By Sandra Paulow

Real Estate Agent with Aspen Properties, Inc. BR511793000

February 17, 2008 06:42 AM

Maybe I'm just old fashioned but when did it get to be the Agent's job to remodel a house for a seller before putting it on the market? I keep reading all these posts from agents who have spent their money to clean or fix-up a property before selling it. I have not heard of this before. Maybe it is just that our area is more relaxed and we simply price the house to sell the way it is, rather than trying to make it fit some ideal of the agent. Yes, sometimes properties are not perfect, sometimes they need work, sometimes they need a good cleaning, but that doesn't prevent us from putting them on the market and selling them like they are! Buyers will often ask for the work to be done once they make an offer and it is accepted, but we sure don't spend our own money or time preparing a home to sell for the seller. Please enlighten me on this, it is certainly new to me.

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James Gordon

Sibcy Cline Realtors® - Cincinnati, OH

REALTOR, PBD SFR SRS

Sandra When you get no or low offers a quick touchup can freshen a home and add a lot of appeal. Remember 2 gallons of paint are worth 50.00 in the can or 5000.00 on the wall

Feb 17, 2008 06:45 AM

Sandra Paulow

Aspen Properties, Inc. - Pinetop Lakeside, AZ

REALTOR, Associate Broker, GRI, SFR

Jame, I won't argue that it could help, but it just isn't the norm in our area. I won't say I have never gone in before a showing to straighten things up a bit, but it just isn't the norm in our area to go in a do a lot of work to sell a property. Yes, we will go in and stage them if they are kind of boring and plain, but we don't go in an paint, clean, remodel or other things just to sell a property.

I try and suggest to my sellers that they take the time to do it themselves but if they are not good housekeepers to begin with, nothing you can say is going to change things. Maybe it is our market, there are so many houses here that are vacant for a long time and dirt and dust accumulate, the stools get rings in them, etc. that it just isn't as shocking to us as it is in other areas.

Feb 17, 2008 06:57 AM

Tamara Inzunza

Realty One Group Capital - Alexandria, VA

Close-In Alexandria and Arlington Living

Just goes to show that you may not want to take on every single listing. In this market of high inventory, anything that is in need of repair and just doesn't show well is a target for longer days on the market, negative feedback, and costly marketing. If 'it is what it is' as-is, then it might be more cost effective to say...'next'.

Feb 17, 2008 12:19 PM

Tamara, Your statement reflects my feelings exactly. Sometimes it is better walk-away then to take on an impossible task of selling something that isn't ready to sell. I have listed and sold "AS-IS" properties and you just need to make sure that the public and other agents understand that it is what it is. No question they are not as easy to sell as something that shows beautifully but I keep saying there is a buyer for every house, you just have to dig a little deeper to find them sometimes. Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them.

Feb 18, 2008 12:30 AM

Michelle Rottach

RE/MAX Elite Homes - Bettendorf, IA

Scott County Iowa Real Estate

Wow - I love the saying 2 gallons of paint are worth $50 in the can and $5000 on the wall! How true is that!I will definitely be using that saying!

Feb 18, 2008 11:20 AM

Sell It Like It Is!

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