"There are dead animals down there" Oh my!!!
How does this happen??
Yesterday I showed another Old Empty Neglected House...I was pretty apprehensive after what happened last week during a showing with this same client! Of course I had to put up with a fair amount of jokes...Like my client saying he was bringing a cat! I know it won't make sense unless you read my other post about that showing but needless to say I really didn't find it amusing!
This home is also very old, has 4 bedrooms,attached garage,an outbuilding and sits on a little over 6 acres of land...mostly wet land but nice for the privacy factor priced at $135,000...sounds pretty good...No? We thought so anyway.
When I called to set up this showing I left a message for the listing agent. A little later I got a call back from another agent, one who does not even work for the same company...I was confused as I know this second agent pretty well. She assured me she did not close down her own company but was simply covering for the other agent who works for another company while he was on vacation.
This really defines cooperation...don't ya think?
She told me that the house was in pretty bad shape and suggested that I do not go down into the basement, she told me the back door would be left open and that there was no electricity (here I go again) to be sure to bring flashlights.
Why me I ask???
I ask for the required Sellers Property Condition disclosure...
She..."I don't have one."
Me..."Okay, how about a plot plan so we can see the layout of the 6 acres?"
She..."I don't have one."
Me..."Okay, Anything you can tell me about this property?"
She..."Well not really Moni...other than it is in pretty bad shape."
Why me... I ask again???
I somehow convince my hubby Jay to go with me...thank god there was not a football game on TV... he surprised me and agreed to accompany me on my showing! I'm not a fool had the Patriots been playing I would of went alone!
While driving to the property I call the agent covering for listing agent to ask a question about the land and she again stresses that I not go down into the basement this time adding "because there are dead animals down there" I am very thankful that my man is with me...they do come in very handy at times!!!!
We arrive at the showing and my client is already there with a "Jack of all trades" friend who will be advising him on potential structural issues, I now have to put up with the token male bonding garbage...ummm jokes all at my expense... the only thing missing was the beer!!
I could tell from the outside that I was in for a treat but I simply could not believe what I saw inside...This is not a candidate for staging although maybe our AR stagers can perform a miracle.
I don't understand how someones home can fall to this state of disrepair and neglect...I thought last weeks home was bad till I saw this.
I could only muster up enough courage to into one room but that was more than enough.
My client... He thinks this home has plenty of possibilities and has some pretty strong interest in it. Me ... I told him he needs to investigate this home as it is sold As-Is and we have no documentation. My Man...Even he didn't go down into the basement! Monday...A visit to the Town Hall and maybe an offer will be in the works.
No Documentation frightens me...
Big Time!!!
I want to make sure I protect my client and limit my liability at the same time. I've given him full disclosure...even if my disclosure is really nothing at all. I simply don't know a thing about this home and neither apparently does the listing agency.
How does this happen...this was someones home....I just can't understand how someone can let their home turn into this.
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My first thought is that the property might be worth more if the house came with a bulldozer!
Moni,
Looking like a foreclosure to me. Here, if it is bank owned it is sold without disclosures. Not uncommon for it to be in that kind of shape when the bank gets it, but often they do a bit of work before they put it back up for sale.
Dena...Bulldozer is right!!! Yuck!
Maureen...I don't know who owns it yet, hopefully on Monday I'll find out. The agent covering had no information. Don't the banks usually disclose that it is bank owned and their Disclosure is "unknown" on everything? This has been on the market since Dec 24 2006...plenty of time to get paper work in my opinion. Just a gross house!!! But you're right it can probably be fixed up.
Wow, you're having tons of fun with the houses these clients are interested in seeing! And I'm sure the pictures aren't really even conveying the monstrosity that ou witnessed. These listings are making for great stories, though.
We write on the listing ticket: "No disclosures."
Not sure yours is a foreclosure but I've done a fair amount of foreclosure work. (I once rescued a mother with a litter of kittens although I didn't have permission to enter at the time). The first time I took my husband with me to a foreclosure listing, he was shocked. After awhile you get used to it but it still makes me wonder how people can live that way. I always stomp my feet really hard before entering so the critters can hide.
Hate to say it but it's not just foreclosures that can get in this shape.. sometimes the owner is elderly and can't do much... I had one once when I heard buzzing every I went into the garage... finally dawned on me it was the termites chewing
Monika - you're going to think I'm crazy, but these are the homes I LOVE! In addition to the regular thorough inspections, I call in a structural engineer to assess the property as well as any other professional that I see fit. I have had so much fun gutting and remodeling old homes like this and they are breath taking when I'm done. Don't be scared, just make sure your customer is thorough with the inspections.
I don't know which is stranger: that Ines likes houses like this one or that Monika got some many comments on a post about dead animals!
I have a great fear of creepy little animals. It goes way back when I once had a bat get tangled in my long hair...I'll never forget the feel of it or the sound of it. CREEPY!
Jim and Maria...The reality was much worse than the photos show. I was going to take a picture of the downstairs bathroom BUT it made me a little sick.
Maureen...Our state has mandatory disclosure requirements. So usually we get a disclosure with Unknown written all over it.
Linda...I stomp my feet and shout...make all sorts of noise before I enter because my husband insists they are more frightened of me than I am of them...I don't believe him though!!
Kaye...Termites chewing...oh gross!!!Last year I did a CMA for a woman who had lived alone for years in an unfinished house...I was speechless. It was really sad to see.
Ines...I've seen some of the before and after pictures that people have taken on resorted homes. Breath taking is right! I can imagine you undertaking this type of project. I think this house can be restored...lots of elbow grease needed. I'm a little unnerved about it but as long as he inspects and checks it all out...
Dena...I'm thinking it is a slow Sunday afternoon and people are attracted to dead animals...or maybe it is the image of Ines liking these types of houses :)
That was good Dena and Monika - very good! :)
Our last home in Miami Shores was a 1920's Spanish Mediterranean. When we first walked in, rick had to step out because he was attacked by fleas. The house was falling apart and it was disgustingly dirty. He did not want to buy it, but you should have seen it after I was done. I'll try to find some pictures. The most important thing is that it was structurally sound (only had to jack-up a couple of beams here and there). When we were ready to sell, we did it in 2 days at above asking price.
Oh my- This would be really be a challenge to a stager! All I can say is wow!
What a beauty! Like Ines I love houses like this. I also like listing them, they sell like hotcakes in my area. And no inspection issues since there's nothing to inspect.:) Hope you write a deal on it.
Monika...
Good story. Let me know if you ever find out what kind of animal is dead down there :) I'm curious now. So what if curiosity killed the cat. ROAR!
I also love houses like this. My husband, Broker Bryant, is right. We move 'em out. Sometimes they sell so fast we barely have time to get them in the MLS :)
Ines...I'd love to see some pictures..it would make a great blog.
Marci...I think it would be a great marketing piece for a Stager...if they could do it.
Bryant...A beauty...yuck! Even my honey wouldn't go in the basement!
TLW...Funny but both Jay and I visualized you being at the showing with us with your loaded gun going Bam...Bam ! LOL...you would of loved it. I was a real wimp.
Thanks
I'd have gone down into that basement with my gun. LOL. :)
You're not a wimp. You just are not a tom boy :)
Don't let me hear you ever call yourself that again. Ever :)
TLW...ROAR!
TLW...LOL...I know you would of been down there in a heart beat...I don' t know how you do it! Jay called me a wimp LOL...I'm gonna tell him what you said. :)
I have not yet decided whether or not I am fearless or just stupid. LOL :)
Go get him :) .....Giddy Up.
By the way did you know the spell checker only works when you use it? :)
TLW...ROAR!
LOL...spell checker...boots me out when I use it. I'm afraid to click it on till the bugs get worked out. It boot's Jay out too...
nice house.at least nothing needs to be done in the kitchen..This one will sell itself I'm sure
sorry, staging can't save this one ;) but i agree, a bulldozer will!
Happy selling! ;)
Cheers,
Cindy@staged4moreStaged4more Home Staging Services
hello@staged4more.com
http://www.staged4more.com
http://stagingtipsandmore.blog.com/
Hey a little paint and carpet and you could have a real dump.
You guys crack me up!
Gary....My buyer actually is putting an offer in :)
Cindy...Not a project you want huh?
Randy...LOL...I love your humor!
How can a house get like this? I have seen the elderly living in this condition, no money for repairs, no family, too sick to keep up with house cleaning, just alone with stuff from many previous decades.
Jennifer...I've asked the same question...how does this happen?? Pretty sad situation! Thanks for reading my Post Jennifer.
Hey Monika - with the price of lots alone around here, this would be worth buying for that price and just bull-dozing it down. But, it may have fix-up potential for someone - someone with money and talent!
Wimp? Nah ..... me either!
Ann
Monika, it was a great post, I like the way you use real everyday experiences in your writing. I just had to work with too situation where the condition of the houses were similar; and the occupants were as I described above. A really sad situation and what does it say about society? people just aren't as neighborly as they should.
Ann...We're negotiating on it but I doubt we'll come to terms. If it does come together I'm not going on the home inspection! I send Jay instead!
Jennifer...Thanks compliments! How sad it is that we don't know our neighbors any more. I remember when my town was a real community...everyone knew everyone. Not so anymore!
I am sure you will find a buyer with a remarkable imagination that looks forward to the hardwork and a sense of accomplishment when renovated.
In the meantime, I would immediately shower after showing it.
---Heartfelt best wishes!
Years ago, I listed a vacation cabin next to a picturesque pond. The only problem was that there was a dead animal decaying in the attic crawlspace. The owners were not quick to respond to this discovery and took their sweet time removing the remains. In the meantime, I tried to show the property only on the "coldest" days.
Long story short, I disclosed the issue to the buyer. It sold... (I think he had sinus problems).
In the past, I have cleaned toilets, done dishes and even hid unmentionables, and undesirable ojects from sight, but I had to draw the line with digging around in the attic for the dead.
LOL...I don't do dead animals either. Not my job!!! We do a lot don't we ...so we can draw a line and not feel bad about it.
Thanks for reading.
Monika