Special offer

Nobody wants to sit on someone else's toilet seats.

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

That's what my seller told me, when I suggested that both bathrooms needed toilet seats.

"Nobody wants to sit on someone else's toilet seats."

In my entire career, which now spans millenia, this is the first listing I've ever had, where the seller has removed the toilet seats, and refuses to replace them.  So the bathrooms look a little forlorn.  The house is vacant, and freshly cleaned, so it's not as though it's dirty, or disgusting.... they're merely missing.  I imagine, it's true, that most new buyers will replace the toilet seats.  But c'mon.

Personally, I think it's odd, but her philosophy is that it won't stop someone from making an offer, and if the buyer insists on new toilet seats, we can provide them.

By "We", I'm pretty sure she means me. ;-(

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments(11)

Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

Ha Ha, At least you don't have to worry about someone leaving the seat up.

Maybe your seller thinks it will discourage people that are viewing the house from using the toilet? I have been in vacant homes where people used the toilet and left a mess.

Maybe you can convince her to install some of these fancy seats. Toilet seat

No buyer can resist.

Apr 29, 2019 04:05 PM
Alan May

Hmmmm... she may be right.  I don't think I wanna sit on that one.

Apr 30, 2019 07:24 PM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

Simply ... wow, Joseph Domino 480-390-6011   Speechless!


Gene

May 17, 2019 08:32 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

If you've got to get new ones I suggest the "soft close" wooden seats. I replaced two of our old toilet seats with them and feel like a bathroom ninja now! It's going to take me an hour to pick out the final changeout. I thought a toilet seat was a toilet seat but oh, no it's not that simple to find the perfect one. 

Apr 29, 2019 06:11 PM
Alan May

I've had TOTO toilets for years... all their seats are 'soft close'.  Clearly designed by a woman who got tired of her significant other slamming the toilet seat in the night.

Apr 30, 2019 07:25 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Alan- I love Joseph Domino 480-390-6011 comment and yes to the soft-closing ones. 

Apr 29, 2019 06:52 PM
Alan May

I totally love them.

Apr 30, 2019 07:25 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

What ever you do, please do not get the ones that open and close every time you go near it plus it will be less pricey too:)Endre

Apr 29, 2019 11:17 PM
Alan May

I'm not into those fancy-shmansy ones.

Apr 30, 2019 07:26 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Sooo many features for these today...soft close, light up...forgetting them all together...would you have kitchen cabinets without counter tops ?

Apr 30, 2019 03:28 AM
Alan May

There will be no "lighting up" on mine.

Apr 30, 2019 07:26 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Alan. Now this is a new one for me! And I am guessing you to! Can just not imagine what kind of discount a buyer may want? Enjoy your journey with this one.

Apr 30, 2019 04:51 AM
Alan May

yep... it's a new one for me.

Apr 30, 2019 07:26 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Alan. A very funny insight. Thanks for the morning chuckle.

Apr 30, 2019 05:59 AM
Alan May

Anytime, Shelia... anytime.

Apr 30, 2019 07:27 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Well Alan May this is the first time I've heard this one! Kind of ridiculous to me.

Apr 30, 2019 03:20 PM
Alan May

it's a first for me, too.

Apr 30, 2019 07:27 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I've had sellers to remove and replace during the marketing period.  I have never had a seller to remove, and not replace.  Very unusual.

May 04, 2019 06:25 AM
Alan May

very.

May 04, 2019 02:30 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

That's plain weird. We replace them ourselves when we move into a new house, but I wouldn't expect the sellers to have the toilet seats removed, unless they replace them.  Another head shaker. Ha. 

May 09, 2019 12:04 PM
Alan May

There are so many head shakers in this business.

May 09, 2019 04:18 PM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

I'm always amazed by what clients place as "bottomlines", Alan May ... a toilet seat is so inexpensive.  The human mind works in mysterious ways ...

Gene

May 17, 2019 08:34 AM
Alan May

sometimes, it just stops working.

May 17, 2019 09:43 AM