After having been in the business of real estate for six years, you begin to think you have seen it all.
In the peak of the seller's market in 2005, I showed homes with obvious water damage, holes in the walls, and even a home in Silver Spring where I could actually hear the termites swarming. In the old market, all of these homes were under contract in days with multiple offers and escalation clauses. When the market changed and short sales and bank owned properties became prevalent, things only got worse with the condition of the homes. I have walked through inches of water in basements, seen exposed electrical wiring, and honestly, feared for my safety under a partially collapsed roof. Again, there is a market for these homes with investors looking to tear down or get a great deal. I understand that the underwater sellers and banks are not going to sink money into a distressed property.
Here is what really irks me though....the "'normal" seller who has hired a listing agent and refuses to present the property at its best. I am not talking about the outdated bathrooms or the 1970's kitchen; there is a fine line in determining how much money to put into selling a home. I am talking about basic cleanliness. I work in a high end market in Potomac and Bethesda and the condition of some of the MILLION DOLLAR PLUS HOMES is truly disgraceful.
The other day, I went to preview a home in an excellent neighborhood that I felt was reasonably priced. From the outside, it had decent curb appeal and sat at the end of a cul-de-sac. I started getting excited thinking about the buyers I could line up for this lovely colonial. Once I put my foot in the door, everything changed. Yes the bones seemed to be good, but I had to literally step over piles of trash and clothes to get in the front door. The cobwebs attached themselves to my head as I entered each room and the layers of dirt attacked my jacket as I walked though the home. The house was supposedly vacant, but each room had if the miscellaneous items laying about, a shoe in the corner, a jacket on the stairs, old McDonalds bags in the kitchen....gross!
The house was listed for over $1.2 million and was probably worth the price if the sellers (or agent) had 
just spent a few hundred dollars on a good cleaning crew. Sure, if the sellers truly wanted top dollar they could splurge on a fresh coat of paint and maybe some new carpet to freshen up the place, but there is really no excuse for a filthy high end listing.
I blame both the seller (for not protecting their bottom line) and the agent for allowing their name to be on such a disgrace. As professionals who are supposed to help our client's get the most money for their investment, it kills me to see agents of luxury homes allowing their clients to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars simply because they are too lazy to counsel their clients properly. I compete with these agents everyday for Potomac and Bethesda listings and I can guarantee you two things...one, I would never put my name on a "regular" listing that was this disgusting and two, I would definitely get these sellers an extra 100K simply by presenting the house properly.
So, Mr. And Mrs. Seller, when your home doesn't sell in this tough buyer's market, remember to call me, at least when your current contract is up. Better yet, call me first. I will truly help you out, but we might have to break out the rubber cleaning gloves in the process.
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Courtney Donato-Griffiths can show you the perfect house in Potomac, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Kensington, Bethesda, or other Montgomery County locations and is ready to discuss all the scenarios of the new credit with you. Whether you are buying a Montgomery County home or selling one, Courtney is your local Montgomery County specialist.
