What Not to Do if Sellers Really Want to Sell Their Home
Typically when the Realtor meet the homeowners for the first time, they have already cleaned up inside and out as it is their intention for the home to look perfect and sell for the very best price. Realtors may have some suggestions to make the home even look more appealing to buyers. But of course there are always homeowners who feel they know what is best and disregard any suggestions by the agent.
Here is a list of items I have come across that delayed the selling of the homes I listed.
- Clothes Spilling Out of the Closets: The bedroom closets filled with shoes, bags, boxes and a big TV so the sellers had all their clothes hanging on the bathroom towel racks, door handles and portable clothes racks in the bedrooms.
-Urine Spots and Smells: The carpets smelled of urine but the homeowner swore to me that the dog was housebroken and their was no odor. He would get angry when I would mention comments that the buyers/agents said. When I suggested having the carpets shampooed, he would dismiss my suggestions.
-Front Door Blocked: The front door on one home was piled high with shoes and they entered from the garage door. When I asked them to clean up the shoes from the door and remove the cobwebs, they did but not for weeks. Time is of the essence and it needed to be done ASAP..... like the same day we discussed it.
-Foul Cooking Odors: One selling couple cooked every night and the house smelled really bad. Agents would call me and say the smells had turned off their buyers when showing the home. When I discussed it with them, they said they would try to curb the cooking but every Friday night, they would have a big family party and when I did the open house on Saturdays, the house was foul smelling and dirty from all the guests. This house took almost a year to sell.
-Bedroom Doors Locked: I had one home for sale that the sellers had a teenage son living there and he kept his door locked so the buyers could never go inside. Finally, he opened the door for the home inspection and it was really bad; filthy dirty, clothes everywhere, black drapes on the windows and the smell was unbelievable.
-No Lock Boxes: No lockboxes and shown by appointment is always a problem. Buyers and their Agents do not want the sellers to follow them around like they are afraid they will steal something if they get out of their sight . Plus the buyers want to talk freely to their agent and feel uncomfortable with seller listening in.
-Stock Piling Food on Kitchen Countertops and Refrigerator Tops: Many people shop at Warehouse stores but the excess needs to go outside in the garage. Especially in small kitchens, you do not want to give the buyer the idea that their is not enough storage space for their food.
-The Appraiser's Visit: When the sellers find out the date of the appraiser, they need to really clean up the house so it looks perfect. The impression of a neat house tells people (buyers/appraisers) that the homeowners have probably taken care of repairs necessary and done some upgrades.
-House Continues to Fall Out of Escrow due to Neighbors Dogs: I had a REO home that had been cleaned up and looked good and was in a pretty nice neighborhood. I had an offer within a day or two and the bank accepted it. 2 days later it fell out and the agent was very evasive as to why. Got another offer and then it fell out before the home inspection. Fell out a third time I said wait a minute!!! I went over to the house and everything looked fine. Left but then decided to go back. I parked down the street and walked in plus I had a master key so didn't have to use the box. Went inside and sat down and waited and watched. Not sure what I was waiting for but something? Then all of a sudden I hear it. The house next door had a lot of snarling and snapping going on so I go outside to find the tenant/owner in the backyard with 3-4 pit bulls. He saw me and sheepishly put them back inside without saying a word. Now I understood as the buyers didn't want to move there and I recalled all 3 were young families with kids. So when I received more offers, I just flat out told the agents upfront so they could make their decision before putting in the offer. I got another offer within a couple of days and finally closed it.
*We try to give our homeowners constructive criticism when needed and help get the house sold as fast as possible at the best price ever. Probably 90% or more clean/purge their homes and follow the suggestions we give but there are a few who think they know more and do not have to listen to us. These few either sell for a lower price, stay on the market longer, and sometimes do not sell at all.
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Kristin Hamilton BRE #01492138 Keller Williams Realty –WCR Member– I am a full time agent and deal in all types of real estate transactions. Trusts, Probate, Short Sales, Standard Listing, Single Family Homes, Apartments 1-4 units, Duplexes and Condos. I am also an experienced REO agent. I sell real estate in the Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. I am a trained and experienced Short Sale agent. If you are looking for a professional and experienced agent, I am just a click away. Google me at Kristin Hamilton-Real Estate Agent. Homeowners and Buyers both will find my services top notch and successful. Call me to sell your home; both traditional and short sales.
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