Getting the house ready to sell

[msomnipotent]

My area is notoriously tough for sellers. Buyers expect move-in, House Beautiful condition, decorated exactly as they would do it themselves. We tried selling 2 years ago. One person didn't like the rose bushes. Another didn't like the refrigerator. One couple didn't like the paint in a bedroom. Our entire house is painted Navajo White, which is a warm beige. They just didn't like how it looked in one room, so they passed on the house. A lot of buyers passed because we had a granite island but not full counter tops. I can see that. I think we were the only house in the subdivision without granite, so we had granite installed. If I hear even one person say that they don't like the granite, I will have such an epic meltdown that it will break the internet!

Our realtor was telling us horror stories about offers in our neighborhood, probably trying to temper our already low expectations. I expect to haggle over the washer & dryer, maybe the tv. These people are looking to buy complete lifestyles! They demand tools in the garage, certain toys, bedspreads. I had to pick myself up off the floor when she told me about a couple that made the contract contingent on the sellers leaving the family dog. I think I would have hunted the buyers down and punched some sense into them. I wasn't planning on getting a storage unit, but now I have to move our kayaks, go kart, antiques, and other toys out of the house. I was even told to make sure my car isn't in the garage. I have to assume that if they see it, they will want it. That's just nuts.

[FLA]

I just remembered I moved out before selling my house, so it was shown empty. I think it showed better that way as my contemporary style may not have been liked by buyers. I bought that townhouse empty, too and was impressed by how large it was and it didn't feel smaller with our stuff in it. In hindsight, I could've bought a much smaller unit after divorcing. I really loved that house, perfect single parent set up.

I cannot believe someone wanted the family dog, what is wrong with people? The most we haggled over, well, there was something but I don't remember it so it couldn't have mattered.

[dawnwes]

80% of people decide if they want to by your house before they walk through the front door.

Talk to a realtor and they'll tell you to focus on the landscaping and on the entrance way of the house. Curb appeal seems to matter more with people than anything else.

Stinks about your window dilemma. Could you just leave it broke and eat the potential lose that you'll take on the sale. It could be a break even scenario. Come up with $3000 to fix the window, or leave it broke and sell the house for $3000 less. It would save you time and aggravation.

That isn't the way buyers think......if ONE thing is broken, they think there is more wrong and offer way less than $3,000 less.

Curb appeal is somewhat important and somewhat not for us. You cannot even see the house from the street. We are on 2.5 acres and the house sits back behind a lot of trees, about half way back on the property. There is no appeal at the curb because you can't see the house from there!

It is kind of a unique thing because if people want land, they have to buy an older home (our neighborhood) but the area around us has built up so much that our school, built after we moved here, is #1 in the greater city area and has been for years. Also, our house is significantly less expensive than the average home in this area. We are counting on that being in our favor.

[dawnwes]

My area is notoriously tough for sellers. Buyers expect move-in, House Beautiful condition, decorated exactly as they would do it themselves. We tried selling 2 years ago. One person didn't like the rose bushes. Another didn't like the refrigerator. One couple didn't like the paint in a bedroom. Our entire house is painted Navajo White, which is a warm beige. They just didn't like how it looked in one room, so they passed on the house. A lot of buyers passed because we had a granite island but not full counter tops. I can see that. I think we were the only house in the subdivision without granite, so we had granite installed. If I hear even one person say that they don't like the granite, I will have such an epic meltdown that it will break the internet!

Our realtor was telling us horror stories about offers in our neighborhood, probably trying to temper our already low expectations. I expect to haggle over the washer & dryer, maybe the tv. These people are looking to buy complete lifestyles! They demand tools in the garage, certain toys, bedspreads. I had to pick myself up off the floor when she told me about a couple that made the contract contingent on the sellers leaving the family dog. I think I would have hunted the buyers down and punched some sense into them. I wasn't planning on getting a storage unit, but now I have to move our kayaks, go kart, antiques, and other toys out of the house. I was even told to make sure my car isn't in the garage. I have to assume that if they see it, they will want it. That's just nuts.

THE DOG???????????? WHAT IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend is selling her house right now and she told her realtor NOT to send her the comments of people who don't want to buy. It was upsetting her. And she was reading stupid comments too, stuff she was not able to fix.

[bjl584]

That isn't the way buyers think......if ONE thing is broken, they think there is more wrong and offer way less than $3,000 less.

Maybe, maybe not.

It might be worth listing it "as is" and see what happens. If the low ball offers start coming in due to the window, or if no offers come in due to buyers being turned off by the broken window, then you could go ahead and fix it.

[dawnwes]

Maybe, maybe not.

It might be worth listing it "as is" and see what happens. If the low ball offers start coming in due to the window, or if no offers come in due to buyers being turned off by the broken window, then you could go ahead and fix it.

We do not live in that kind of neighborhood. We have spent 10 years working on this house, finished a basement, redone the kitchen and bathrooms, etc.....

No way I am listing "as is" and losing $$.

And here is the problem with, "Well, just see"

Realtors can SEE the previous listings. So, you list "as is" now, but fix it, and list for more later, realtors will tell their clients, "Here is the previous listing, you can see it was in "as is" condition.

And then there is the inspection. If they find rotted wood, you have to fix it and fix it BEFORE closing. We have already been warned about having issues and the inspectors here.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Don't do any inspections before you list you have to disclose. Depends on how desperate the buyers are. In some areas they don't care and others areas they do. They can be different even within the same cities just different suburbs.

[dawnwes]

Don't do any inspections before you list you have to disclose. Depends on how desperate the buyers are. In some areas they don't care and others areas they do. They can be different even within the same cities just different suburbs.

Yup, and we live in an area where they do care.

[bjl584]

And here is the problem with, "Well, just see"

Realtors can SEE the previous listings. So, you list "as is" now, but fix it, and list for more later, realtors will tell their clients, "Here is the previous listing, you can see it was in "as is" condition.

I'm surprised that a Realtor would show a client that information being that they work on commission.

[dawnwes]

I'm surprised that a Realtor would show a client that information being that they work on commission.

A lot of things surprise me. I guess they shouldn't, but they do.

It is ok, we want our house to be sold and sold at the higher price, so we will suck it up and fix it.

[bjl584]

A lot of things surprise me. I guess they shouldn't, but they do.

It is ok, we want our house to be sold and sold at the higher price, so we will suck it up and fix it.

Sounds good.

Good luck with the repairs.

[msomnipotent]

Yup, and we live in an area where they do care.

It sounds like we live in very similar areas. What really chaps my pants is that I'm spending money to lose money. Even if I get asking price, I'm still going to lose about $80,000. We just can't stand the neighbor and the neighborhood anymore. The good news is that a similar house less than a mile from us will cost $50,000 to $100,000 less, and my daughter doesn't have to switch schools. We are looking to move literally across the street, but it will be a world of difference.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Why will it cost $50-100k less across the street?

[dawnwes]

Why will it cost $50-100k less across the street?

It is like that around here too. Houses vary a lot.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

What's the variance in same school district? Older home? smaller house? Smaller lot?

Why would streets vary the prices? Is it location one is on a busy street, while the other is in a neighborhood cul-de-sac? I asked because I would assume that for different school districts there is always a big price differential for the same size and type of house. But same district?