Yesterday I had beautiful chaos! A car full of qualified buyers. Not one, Not two, but three ready, able and willing buyers toured numerous homes.
I felt as though I had a panel of judges rating each home. Their feedback was priceless. After our exhausting, informative, productive, and at times, comical tour of homes was complete, we compiled a a list of ways to NOT SELL YOUR HOME.
10 Ways NOT to Sell Your Home
1. Make it difficult for an agent to show it. I was shocked at how many sellers, even with 24 hour notice, were unwilling to show their home.
2. Don't get out of bed. Yep! True story. As I and three marines, walked into a VACANT/ON lockbox home, we seemed to "wake up" a confused gentleman. I can only imagine what must have gone through his head initially.
3. Invite everyone you know to SMOKE in your home. Not once, but twice we opened doors to be overwelmed with the aroma of second, third, and even fourth-hand smoke. Not good. Not good at all. If you have smoked in your home, repaint, replace the carpet, and pray, immediately.
4. Hang up every "questionable" picture you can possibly find. Now, remember it is me and THREE marines. One home, I am certain, they will NOT remember for the property itself:).
5. Make sure your neighbors stop prospective buyers and tell them your entire life history (while consuming alcohol). Wisteria Lane....Look Out!
6. Celebrate Christmas all year long. Self explanatory!
7. Leave Fido. Now, I am a Fido loving fool. Luckily so were all three of my buyers; however, Fido didn't smell like a rose garden and neither did each room he followed us into!
8. Have your Agent call the Buyers Agent every 5 minutes to see if she has shown th
e home yet. Hmmmm....motivated seller???
9. Febreze, Glade, Lysol, Potpurri, Incense, and Perfume the place like crazy. We were a group of sneezing fools!
10. Last but not least, one really good way to NOT SELL your home is to attempt to do it own your own! I made an appointment to show a For Sale By Owner and quite frankly, felt bad for them when we left. It seemed as though they truly had NO idea how to market, show, or price their otherwise lovely little home.
Over all it was a great day, but sellers PLEASE....take this list into consideration!
 |
|
|
Marine 1 Realty specializes in assisting military families in buying, selling, and investing in Beaufort, South Carolina Real Estate. Proudly serving THOSE WHO SERVE.
Real Estate as An Olympic Sport
It is Amazing What a Little Windex Can Do!
Fingers and Toes~~~ A Woman's Guide to Beaufort Part 1
Allowance Versus Doing It Yourself~~ Advice For Sellers
For Military Families~ A Way To Notify Friends of Your New Address
Are You Heading To Parris Island, Beaufort SC?
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
Cherimie - thanks for the chuckle on this great Sunday morning ! Sounds like you had quite a riot yesterday ! It certainly is a great list. It is amazing to see all of these things happen over and over. I also find it amazing how difficult it can be to get into certain listings with a key the other side of town or listing agent must accompany (to a vacant home ? ). And you are right, in a buyers market, you would think that every seller would have their place aired out and cleaned up ! LOL, great post : )
Morning Cherimie, Always amazes me that a seller can't seem to look at the place through a buyers' eye ! Hope they all buy something.
great info - no wonder why the market is so slow - so many homes show so horribly that buyers do not even want them - and thanks fro teh Sunday morning laugh
Chris and Stephanie,
Thanks for reading. We had a blast!
Bill,
I was shocked at the condition of some of the homes, but luckily there were several very nice ones to view also!
Randall,
Thanks for stopping by. We had a great time yesterday and is was certainly I eye opener.
The question ... do they really want to sell. It amazes me that some sellers sabotage themselves with the condition/presentation of the home. I love it when the lady of the home has personal under garments out, laundry on the floor, cat boxes in the bath tub. Good sense just flies out the windows. Hope you are able to find the right home for all!
Cherimie, Maybe you should host a show with Michele Pimentel on HGTV. She posted something similar....yours is funny as well. I am amazed at the people that simply do not know what to do and thinking that they are helping. In most cases selling homes should have a warning of "Don't try this at home"
Bo
Connie,
Good Morning, I love seeing your smiling face on my post:). We actually encountered the liter-box in the tub scenario!
Bo,
I will check her out! Thanks for reading.
We have seen some short sales where people violate multiple rules you have listed. I have no idea what they are thinking.
WOW!! You described my DAY!! Can't show this one because xyz excuse, smokers in this one (claimed it was bridge party!), don't let the cat out and don't touch the parrot on top of his cage, nosy neighbors approaching buyers, every smell known to the human nose (and some we don't recognize YUCK!) and yes, PLEASE DON'T TRY TO SELL YOUR OWN HOME!! Absolutely the best post I read today!! We can all relate..........Good Luck!
Thanks for the post Cherimie. It sounds like you had some really nice buyers and were able to have some fun looking at homes. #1 really gets to me because it you don't make it easy to show, why even have it on the market. One thing I really hate is when the seller insists on being there and makes a point in following us around and won't stop talking---some seller just don't get it.
Very funny Cherimie. I think I have seen these homes myself!! Sellers....listen! KM
Cherimie, you are too funny. I really love your blogs.
Hey Cherimie, it sounds like you all had a very interesting outing!
The list is very good and all sellers should take a gander at it for good measure!
Cherimie, It sounded like you had a great time with your car full! they not only werer qualified, but they provided you with some Blog Fodder!
Oh man, you would have the best show! I love that idea! I have walked into people in the shower, but not in bed....yet...
Awesome!
What a great time you must've had putting this list together!
#5 just cracked me up be cause it has happened to me and my buyers on NUMEROUS occassions! not sure what they're thinking but it is a HUGE turn off for buyers!
Great Information Cherimie. You must have had a blast with "your' marines. You made me laugh with many of them. I hope the man you woke up had clothing on, once we were on agent tour and we found a man sprinting buck naked from the bathroom to the bedroom. Not a pretty picture.
Love that list! I think just about everyone can relate to more than a few of those hints! Thanks!
I'll never forget when, many years ago, my husband and I were shopping for a house. We were touring a ranch and walked in the master BR, only to find the homeowners boyfriend in the bed! Yes, he was awake and spoke with us, but never bothered to get out of the bed. I'm thankful, wondering what he was wearing under the sheets!
What? No cats too? Nothing better than a dirty litter box to add to the ambiance of a home for sale!!!
Great post Cherimie!
Thanks for the humorous, but sadly, all too often true, insight on How Not to Sell Your Home!
Oh, the uncomfortable pictures! You know which ones make me squirm? The pregnancy belly with the husband gazing lovingly at the belly with his hands on it....you know which ones I mean? They're just so INTIMATE and they always, always make me uncomfortable.
Sounds like you had a blast yesterday!
Oh, yeah! This was priceless and I especially liked the inviting evyerone you know to come smoke in your house, or maybe invited a herd of cats for ferrels
Cherimie,
Oh and be sure to leave the bathroom a mess and the toilet seat up...this is the most important rule...
Ann Hayden in cloudy Wildwood, Missouri
Cherimie,
I have experienced all of these with the exception of finding someone still in bed.
Cherimie,
Please take the time to show some new homes....the agents will already be on site so you don't have to make an appointment or use a lockbox, we try not to sleep in the model homes (although I cannot say it has never happened), we don't have pets in our homes nor do we allow people to smoke in them...they have a new home smell so no febreeze is necessary.....(did I cover everything) just a thought........this is why when I have to spend a whole day showing resales, I know I am moving into unfamiliar terroritory. Great post.
What a great post....and list.
Buyers looking at my listing were one time treated to a naked young lady headed to the laundry room for a towel - she was in the shower when they knocked on the door and called out, so she didn't hear them enter the house (since the agent didn't get a response, she assumed nobody was home and they went right in...)
Funniest thing ever - except for the young lady. LOL
Funny! So true - great post!
Thanks for the information..
Ginger