A beautiful blue contemporary, nestled in the side of a hill, sits vacant. It was once one of the jewels of the neighborhood, but the homeowners moved out a few months ago. The home has been on the market for well over a year, and there is no indication that it will sell any time soon.
It initially went on the market "For Sale By Owner," and was overpriced by about $65,000. I called the owner one day to request a tour of the property, but received no response. Certainly such a beautiful, well-maintained home would sell once the price came down, and I was desperate to show the home to potential buyers.
One day this summer, I finally had the "perfect fit"- or so I thought. As I was showing some buyers a few homes one Sunday evening, I asked if they would like to see some homes in another neighborhood. They agreed, so we went on our way. The drive through the neighborhood could not have been more perfect. There was a beautiful evening sky that was the perfect backdrop for our drive around the curves. The homes looked so perfect, nestled and perched on their respective hills, and, at one point, a family of deer crossed the road ahead of us. What an experience!
My clients looked at the first home and thought that it was nice, but the floor plan was not open. I then suggested that we look at the home next door. Being a contemporary, I thought that it would be a little more open and spacious. I was so excited to actually be showing this home. I called the agent, and we were in!
I allowed my clients to enter first. Things seemed fine in the entryway, but rapidly went downhill. The mother of the wife, who had come along with the couple, immediately left the home and was out the door before I realized what was going on. I turned the corner to see dead cicaedas all over the family room in front of a window. Then, I heard laughter and sounds of absolute shock coming from other parts of the home. This home that was so lovely on the outside, but had been remodeled in such a way that only a small percentage of buyers would find it attractive. The money that should have been spent on replacement windows and appropriate updating was spent on fixtures, tile, and paint that were dark, unusually textured, and completely unconventional. It absolutely left me at a loss for words and extremely disappointed.
After apologizing to everyone, I began to check the locks and prepared to leave. The husband decided to see the basement, but the wife and daughter went outside. When he came back up from the basement, he looked pretty happy and said that the basement was actually the best part. It was definitely a man's paradise.
Needless to say, the couple did not make an offer on the home and I do not look at the home with the same adoration as before. Hopefully someone will buy the home and turn it back into a jewel, but I do not think that this will happen anywhere near the current asking price. It will probably take more money to correct the distasteful decor than it took to make it the way that it is. This home is definitely a painful example of what can happen when someone tries to personalize a home too much.
One never knows when they will have to move, so it is wise not to spend money on eclectic , ultra-trendy fixtures that do not conform to the home or to the neighborhood. If one is going to personalize, do it with something inexpensive-like paint.
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