Overcoming location/view

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Forget the block wall. Who cares? Might as well wonder what you can do about it raining too much where you live. if it is possible to make the wall more attractive with plants or murals, go for it. But you might just be calling attention to it. In any case, nothing you can do about it. It's like having only one bathroom.

"Walkable urban," appeals to an increasing number of buyers who want to walk to decent bars and restaurants and you are holding the high cards here.

Emphasize all the things that you can walk to in the neighborhood. Leave a menu for the great next door restaurant on the table. Create a home environment that would feel right at home to a people who eat take-out four nights a week. Clean, uncluttered, sleek, hip, urban maybe?

There are buyers who want your location. HGTV episodes are filled with buyers looking for the neighborhood where they can walk with their kid on their shoulders to the local eatery. I've even seen episodes where buyers walked in and were pleased to see a brick wall inside a condo. Architectural interest. Go figure.


Son of a friend used to buy triplexes and duplexes in the neighborhoods around the two local hospitals. His best tenants were medical professionals who wanted a dedicated place to park, preferably inside a garage, and be close enough to walk to two or three places where they could get a beer and a bite to eat.

So appeal to those folks.

You have a great house in great place. Market that. What about a bonus for a full price offer - $5,000 gift certificate to the restaurant on the other side of the wall?

I would love the privacy of a brick wall. Who wants neighbors looking over all the time? Is there a way to create more of a courtyard of your yard?

[oldtrader]

At the moment our challenge is the street, being behind the business and having inferior houses (not trying to sound arrogant) around us. Apartments are on the street behind us, as are other houses. Note: this is an urban suburb, so you find apartments mixed around houses all over the area.

You know what your problem is. The think that makes and breaks the sale of property is three things. Location #1. Location is #2. And when you get past those two you still have #3 which is Location to consider.

Buyers LOVE the house. We had an offer before we listed but couldn't accept. Now the brick wall is the issue. One realtor with an all cash buyer (they had a $100,000 car) said it was the best house he or they had looked at so far. Everyone says the house is perfect, they just cannot get past the wall.

Again Location is your enemy.

However, there is a house in our area getting ready to go on the market for almost $500,000. Granted that street is MUCH more desirable, but our house is much better, many more updates, layout, etc. Is a better street .1 mile away, which is smaller (larger yard) worth $100,000 more? Guess we will find out.

The answer to your question is, probably YES. They have a much better location, and people pay more for location.

What most people do not realize is, a home that is much better than the rest of the homes is often not worth much more than the average homes in the subdivision if any more, due to one fact.

Fact: Before a buyer will buy a superior home in a so-so neighborhood, they will buy a typical home in a superior neighborhood. They will always go for location.

You yourself say your home is over improved for the neighborhood. There are inferior homes as you say. The neighborhood have businesses involved, that effect your home. Especially a high wall separating you from the business. Apartments. You simply are effected by the location of your home. Buyers are sending you a message. They love your home, but they are not buying your location.

The buyers that want a nice home, also want it in a nice location. They will pay more, and accept a little less in the way of a home, that has the superior location.