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What's Been Left Behind in Your Listing?

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Toilet Paper left behind in a Master BedroomWhat's Been Left Behind in Your Listing?

Taking a final stroll through your home before leaving it as vacant and on the market is a must.  You would be surprised at the things you can overlook when packing up the moving boxes.  And of course, you want to make the best possible impression on buyers, or tenants, that are touring the home.

The first oddity we encountered really took the focus off the grand size of the master suite.  Instead, all eyes focused on the toilet paper roll left in the  room.  Maybe it fell off the top of the last full box when the former tenants were leaving.  That's what I envisioned.  Nonetheless, it captured way too much attention and was the butt of many jokes. 

Of course, not all items left behind are as disposable or innocuous as a roll of toilet paper.  In yet another home that my tenant-clients and I toured we saw something a bit more troubling.  

Scarface Prop Gun

This particular piece stood out like a sore thumb to those of us touring the home, but was obviously overlooked in the move.  At first glance, all the adults saw was the gun.  What the ....?  Who leaves a framed gun in a home that strangers will be walking through?

A closer look revealed what we believed to be a framed prop from the movie Scarface.    But just because we came to the common sense conclusion that this was a movie prop, doesn't mean that any of us would like to have the prop pointed at us.  Looks real enough.

And if this is a movie prop, wouldn't it have value to the owner?  This seems like a collector's item to me.  Personally, I would want to box up first if I was moving.  Instead, it has been left behind in the basement of a home.  

Taking one last walk through is a great idea when moving.  And when marketing a vacant listing, a Listing Agent would be wise to take care to notice items like these.

Comments(28)

William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I have never had a real bad listing that left a lot...I just tell my buyer to let me know how much it costs to get rid of stuff, and if it is a very small amount, I will take it with me.

 

Usually, we walk through just before closing and can address any big issues that may arise

Nov 16, 2015 06:36 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

But you have to admit, a framed gun is a bit odd and not advisable for anyone to leave behind.

Nov 16, 2015 06:52 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Chris Ann, perhaps they thought that leaving it would add to the value of the home, at least to some "Scarface" fan.

Nov 16, 2015 08:56 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Well, I texted the Listing Agent the picture and told him.  He was stunned it was left.  Same thought went through his mind as mine.  It's a gun, get it out of there.

Nov 16, 2015 09:10 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Years ago, I sold a home that had been tenant occupied.  He was moving back home with his mom and dad, and the owner had decided to sell once the property had become vacant.  There were 2 scrawny marijuana plants left behind on the sun porch.  I guess mom and dad wouldn't let him bring them home!

Nov 16, 2015 10:44 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

That's right up there with the framed gun.

Nov 16, 2015 11:16 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Chris Ann -- that gun -- prop or otherwise -- is just weird.   What I seem to find in either a vacant home is trash and that definitely is not a good impression regardless if it's the first or last thing you encounter.  

Nov 16, 2015 11:50 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Trash is never a good thing to find in a vacant home.

Nov 17, 2015 12:24 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Chris Ann. I think you make a very good and important point here. Spend the extra time for your own walk through.

Nov 17, 2015 12:10 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

I do.  And the final walk through usually results in a call about an item or two left behind.

Nov 17, 2015 12:24 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

You win the prize for weirdest thing ever left behind. I can hear the conversation now, You take it off the wall, No, YOU take it off the wall. And then they forget and leave it there.

Nov 17, 2015 02:14 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

I believe the Listing Agent is taking it off the wall now.

Nov 17, 2015 06:06 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Chris Ann - Great advice for anyone selling their home, and for any agent listing a vacant home.

We always do a final walk through when we stay at hotels just to make sure we don't leave anything behind. The same concept should be used when moving out of a home.

Nov 17, 2015 03:49 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Especially when moving out of a home.  

Nov 17, 2015 06:07 AM
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Chris Ann,

            Sometimes things left behind makes one wonder why, I would think that too would be valued by someone oh well it all comes with the territory!

Nov 17, 2015 06:06 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

If not, it's still some type of gun left in a home.  Not cool.

Nov 17, 2015 06:07 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I always look what people leave behind and wonder why. Well Chris Ann Cleland I was flying overt your area and looking at the rows of homes wondering where the great area you write about every day was in the vast view from the air. The neighborhoods are so neatly layed out. 

Nov 17, 2015 09:59 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

We are the land of cul-de-sacs and subdivisions.  From the air, it looks very orderly.

Nov 18, 2015 01:36 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

It never hurts to double and triple check your home before officially leaving. Pull out all the drawers, open all the cabinets, and check behind all the doors!

Nov 17, 2015 11:07 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

And sometimes, maybe doing that the day after the move...if you can.  You may be less hectic.

Nov 18, 2015 01:36 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Chris Ann, If only the walls could talk ... I am sure there are stories to tell.

Nov 18, 2015 04:12 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

 

Mr. Crappy can use that toilet paper! 

 

Nov 18, 2015 04:13 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Thanks for another feature with Mr. Crappy.

Nov 18, 2015 05:07 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Wow CHris Ann, that one takes the cake but so many people forget about taking so much stuff.  Great blog!

Nov 18, 2015 05:21 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Thanks for stopping by.

Nov 18, 2015 08:11 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Finding weird things in homes must be something you are used to. I know I come across funny things sometimes when I move furniture around. People get so embarrassed!  LOL

Nov 18, 2015 06:16 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

I can only imagine.

Nov 18, 2015 08:11 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Chris Ann

Now if this all was in the same house, one could shoot ones self in the butt and have the TP to wipe it up. Just another butt in the course of life without TP. cheers cvc

Nov 18, 2015 06:50 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Ouch.

Nov 18, 2015 08:11 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Butt of the jokes? LOL 

Nov 18, 2015 12:25 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

So true. We found quite a few left behind items from the previous owners of our new home. One, a cookbook with notations that had to mean something. The rest, a bunch of junk left as a gift? Not sure. ;)

Nov 18, 2015 11:12 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

The cookbook with notations sounds interesting.  If you can read the recipes, you should try it out.

Nov 19, 2015 04:12 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Chris Ann

I know my previous comment was a bit over the top, occasionally my ribald humor rears its ugly head. cheers cvc

Nov 19, 2015 01:01 AM
Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA
(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Chris Ann Cleland 

It always makes me laugh when sellers leave the oddest things but always take ALL of the toilet paper. I usually bring a roll for each bathroom for buyers and agents that show the home. Your picture made me think of that!

Nov 19, 2015 01:10 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Shoot, I keep toilet paper in the trunk.  You never know when you are going to need it.

Nov 20, 2015 10:53 AM
Michele Connors
The Overton Group, LLC Pitt & Carteret County - Greenville, NC
Your Eastern North Carolina Realtor

My cleaning ladies were asked to clean a home before my buyers moved in...they found a bog of pot in a kitchen cabinet. Oops ! 

Nov 24, 2015 05:49 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

That's a big oops.

Nov 25, 2015 04:30 AM