Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
#1 When the sellers are there.
#2 Smells
#3 Looks Dirty - as in it rarely sees a mop/vacuum/etc. (I'm a clean freak so I really notice this)
#4 Things that you can see have not been kept up/look un-maintained. Really makes me wonder what I CANNOT see that hasn't been kept up.
#5 Unfinished projects. Please finish them before you show your house.
In this market, you've GOT to stage your house as best as you can, even if you don't have the money, you can put away the clutter, clean, move furniture around, take care of any maintenance issues, etc. You're moving anyway......why not start packing now? It will probably sell your house quicker if your home is less cluttered and personalized. As much as you love your stuff and pictures of your family, people want to see it as 'their' own home.
Also, a pet peeve, particularly in this market, is a home that is obviously priced way above comps. Come on.....are the sellers that unaware of the current market? We bid 'fair market value' based on current comps on a house that had been on the market since Dec. 07 and is sitting empty. The home was overpriced by close to $40K and the seller countered at just $10K off listing price. So we moved on and got a MUCH nicer house for a great price. That other house is still for sale, sitting empty.
#1 When the sellers are there.
#2 Smells
#3 Looks Dirty - as in it rarely sees a mop/vacuum/etc. (I'm a clean freak so I really notice this)
#4 Things that you can see have not been kept up/look un-maintained. Really makes me wonder what I CANNOT see that hasn't been kept up.
#5 Unfinished projects. Please finish them before you show your house.
In this market, you've GOT to stage your house as best as you can, even if you don't have the money, you can put away the clutter, clean, move furniture around, take care of any maintenance issues, etc. You're moving anyway......why not start packing now? It will probably sell your house quicker if your home is less cluttered and personalized. As much as you love your stuff and pictures of your family, people want to see it as 'their' own home.
Also, a pet peeve, particularly in this market, is a home that is obviously priced way above comps. Come on.....are the sellers that unaware of the current market? We bid 'fair market value' based on current comps on a house that had been on the market since Dec. 07 and is sitting empty. The home was overpriced by close to $40K and the seller countered at just $10K off listing price. So we moved on and got a MUCH nicer house for a great price. That other house is still for sale, sitting empty.
Sadly people are either unaware of the market (which is when their realtor should step in) or they can't offer it for lowering otherwise it would create a short sale and they are hoping they get lucky and avoid that.
My peeves are...
#1 if the owner is there.
#2 cat **** smell. (seems to be big problem in Collingswood NJ)
#3 basements. I hate em and most look like water is or has been a problem. That and low ceiling basements. UGH. Hate them all.
I hate being mis-lead. Like advertising as a 3 bedroom when its really 2 bedrooms and a converted dining room into a bedroom.
I also don't like sloppy DIY work (especially for major things like electrical, plumbing, etc). If you can't get a pro, just don't do it at all and price your home accordingly.
I can't stand granite countertops on top of broken down/beat up cabinets. That's not an update.
Also, a pet peeve, particularly in this market, is a home that is obviously priced way above comps. Come on.....are the sellers that unaware of the current market? We bid 'fair market value' based on current comps on a house that had been on the market since Dec. 07 and is sitting empty. The home was overpriced by close to $40K and the seller countered at just $10K off listing price. So we moved on and got a MUCH nicer house for a great price. That other house is still for sale, sitting empty.[/quote]
Homes like this serve a purpose. They help sell other people's homes. In fact, they are the number one marketing tool for a home priced to sell.
We looked at 9 properties over the weekend. By far the worst was the house we went to where they knew we were coming, but didn't bother to clean up at all before we got there... dirty dishes in the sink and on the counter... a locked gate that prevented us from going into the living room... we climbed up the stairs and saw 3 shut bedroom doors, and didn't even bother going in. We turned around and left before bothering to look at the rest of the house.
Seriously - when we were selling our house, we lived in a museum for 6 months. How can people have their house for sale in this market and not keep it in top shape for showings, especially when on a lock box?
I don't like it when the house is riddled with ethnic and religious stuff. I get turned off with big statues and altars, incense smell, stale smell of cooking (garlic, onions, deep fried food...)
#1 When the sellers are there.
#2 Smells
#3 Looks Dirty - as in it rarely sees a mop/vacuum/etc. (I'm a clean freak so I really notice this)
#4 Things that you can see have not been kept up/look un-maintained. Really makes me wonder what I CANNOT see that hasn't been kept up.
#5 Unfinished projects. Please finish them before you show your house.
In this market, you've GOT to stage your house as best as you can, even if you don't have the money, you can put away the clutter, clean, move furniture around, take care of any maintenance issues, etc. You're moving anyway......why not start packing now? It will probably sell your house quicker if your home is less cluttered and personalized. As much as you love your stuff and pictures of your family, people want to see it as 'their' own home.
Also, a pet peeve, particularly in this market, is a home that is obviously priced way above comps. Come on.....are the sellers that unaware of the current market? We bid 'fair market value' based on current comps on a house that had been on the market since Dec. 07 and is sitting empty. The home was overpriced by close to $40K and the seller countered at just $10K off listing price. So we moved on and got a MUCH nicer house for a great price. That other house is still for sale, sitting empty.
I completely agree. We listed our condo last July and it sold 1 day before our contract was up. We lived in a shrine for that entire summer. I hate houses that smell of pets or smokers. I am allergic to animals and hate the smell of stale cigarettes.
I also hate musty basements. Another is that old Grandma smell. The house is so old that you can't get the grandma smell out. Yuck!
Clutter, dirty dishes piled in the sink, cat smells and toys (saw one where there were cats/house/towers and toys in every room). Another where dirty clothese piled so heavily on the floor the doors hardly opened.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
