Admin

Are You Sure About That?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

I don't think I would put a purple carrot in my mouth. 😜

If you are Selling, or thinking of Selling your home you should be aware that there are certain colors that just plain old don't belong on the exterior of a home.

I had a listing that was the same color blue as the one above in the lower left corner. People loved the house, location, and nearly endless back yard that emptied into a City owned ravine. Everyone complained about the color and it sat on the market about 6 months. I finally convinced the Seller to paint the house... it sold a week after being painted white.

There are several lessons here.

#1 Listen to your realtor when it comes to tips on how to sell your house.

#2 Just because you like a paint color (interior or exterior) does NOT mean anyone else will.

#3 Giving an "allowance" for painting or flooring seldom works.

#4 Buyers do not buy homes to fix them (except investor). Buyers usually borrow as much as they can and because of that they want their "perfect" home for the money. They rarely have money left for projects, they want to kick back and enjoy their new home... not fix it.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule and if you are waiting for that exception to buy your home my professional advice would be: Don't hold your breath.

Posted by

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - the "rainbow" is inspiration for trying new things.  Consuming new-to-you foods as well as experiences of many kinds.  Possibilities can be unlimited.  If your mind is open. . .  

Oct 04, 2024 02:27 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

This is true Michael Jacobs but when a Seller decides to sell they usually want it to happen fast. The home I spoke of had a lot of traffic but no offers and all complained about the color. Maybe the home would have sold in a year as is but by painting it a "normal" color it sold in a week.

Oct 04, 2024 06:12 AM
Michael Jacobs

Bob "RealMan" Timm - when any property goes on the market for sale, it can get lots of showings yet receive no offers.  It may also be a situation where there are a small number of showings, but it garners one acceptable offer.  Many sorts of combinations where "moving forward" is not part of the home selling equation may surface too.  Real estate is a fascinating profession.  And quite frustrating at times too. 

Oct 04, 2024 06:36 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Amen Michael Jacobs 

Oct 04, 2024 06:40 AM
Michael Elliott
Fathom Realty - Burlington Township, NJ
Burlington, New Jersey Residential Sales

Great post, Bob!!  There is a house with similar color in an adjoining town to the bottom left one.  As for "credits",  you are so right.  Most people cannot visualize new paint or new flooring.  I am going through that now on a listing.   Have a great weekend !

Oct 04, 2024 02:54 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Michael Elliott . People liked the home and loved the location. The problem was the paint as proven by the fast sale once it was painted white.

Oct 04, 2024 06:14 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Oh my gosh, those houses! Yuck!  As for your advice to sellers, yes, indeed, paint the house a normal color and then sell it. Most buyers do not want to have to paint it.

Oct 04, 2024 04:40 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Exactly! Thanks Kat Palmiotti 

Oct 04, 2024 06:15 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Bob... I was just telling a seller yesterday as we walked his house that the two things that sell a house these days is price and condition. The more turn-key a home is, the faster the home will sell and for more money.

I actually live in a neighborhood with colorful homes... mine is hydrangea blue, the house next door is kelly green, and we have houses of all colors including pink. Everyone knows are neighborhood and we have many people clamoring to buy here.

Oct 04, 2024 04:49 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I had to look up hydrangea blue Nina Hollander, Broker as I was not familiar with it's name. That's not bad. Like the picture above the home I had listed was just too dark and overwhelming. Like I told Michael Jacobs when a Seller decides to sell they usually want it to happen fast. The home I spoke of had a lot of traffic but no offers and all complained about the color. Maybe the home would have sold in a year as is but by painting it a "normal" color it sold in a week.

Oct 04, 2024 06:19 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm hi Bob... I'm in a neighborhood that has a certain "look" of Victorian style homes that are colorful. But if you're not in that kind of a neighborhood, the more neutral the better.

Oct 04, 2024 07:51 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Bob,

Nina Hollander, Broker comment made me think of homes in other locations that are colorful in Austin. Many younger people are attracted to these areas in Austin and we need to remember Real Estate is local and is also local to communities. These colorful homes would not do well in some neighborhoods but in others they are the rage. Knowing your audience when you list is crucial!

Oct 04, 2024 05:18 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Dorie Dillard Austin TX Minot is only 40 to 50,000 people thus we do not have enough buyers to take a chance that maybe somebody will like the color. Nearly everyone liked the house and loved the lot but nobody liked the color. Just changing to a neutral color made the home sell fast. 

Oct 04, 2024 06:23 AM
Kathy Streib

I agree Dorie Dillard Austin TX know your local audience. 

Oct 04, 2024 05:48 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bob. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. When in doubt go neutral. Enjoy your day.

Oct 04, 2024 05:55 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Wayne Martin I agree. When I was active I was surprised how hard it was to sell that simple idea to Sellers, especially when it came to curb appeal. They seldom believed me when I told them that I had Buyers wanting to see the home but when we pulled up they said "keep driving".

Oct 04, 2024 06:28 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Bob, I remember back in 1979 I painted my house the color orange.  It was the only one on the block that color.

 

Oct 04, 2024 09:02 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Did any of your neighbors have a talk with you about it Will Hamm ? I have heard of neighbors getting angry over a neighbors house color.

Oct 05, 2024 12:36 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Bob- I used an app to show my clients how their house or room would look with a more user-friendly color. 

Oct 04, 2024 05:49 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

That is a great app Kathy Streib and maybe you will use it on this months challenge. 

Oct 05, 2024 12:37 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Bob so glad you were able to convince your sellers to change the color to white... it is so much easier than convincing buyers all it takes is a paint job.... now to your headline, I love Purple carrots they are good to do with meals... keep in mind if you put it in soup it will darken the color of the soup if you have leftovers:)Endre

Oct 04, 2024 10:16 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

It did take convincing but it sure was worth it Endre Barath, Jr. Sometimes it's impossible to get Sellers to make the change and not give an allowance. I had not heard of purple carrots so now I have to ask Carol if your pulling my leg 😉.

Oct 05, 2024 12:40 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Bob "RealMan" Timm  purple carrots are infused with beets when they grow them, next time I will do a meal I will post some photos and ping you with it:)Endre

Oct 05, 2024 09:10 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Endre Barath, Jr. after reading this I had to ask Timmothy if he knew that there are purple carrots. Like me he had no clue but your information made him smile.

Oct 08, 2024 11:19 AM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

Agreed- credits for paint and floors don't work. Homes needing renovation are deeply discounted here for the complexity and time it takes to work with building rules. 

Oct 08, 2024 10:00 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

As they should be Adam Feinberg (deeply discounted). I know in my decades of RE experience I never had a Buyer say "Yippee, an allowance".

Oct 08, 2024 11:21 AM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

Yes colors can turn off folks. I had a couple of retired military personnel who loved a bedroom with blue walls as they had 40 years of beige walls.

Oct 09, 2024 05:05 AM