She Said, I Said, I Thought - Part II

Today, we continue with more examples of conversations I’ve had with home sellers which end up being a three-way conversation – what she said, what I said, and what I was actually thinking.   

She’s Looking at a Different House 

SHE SAID – My husband and I built a warm, comfortable, and family-friendly house for our children.  We are surrounded by our children’s toys, family pets and pictures of loved ones and friends.  It is the perfect house and location to raise a family and to enjoy each other. 

I SAID – I agree that your home reflects what is important to your family and you.  Not every potential buyer is going to have children and pets.  While you have lovely photos all over your house, they can be a distraction to the buyer.  This house needs to be neater, cleaner and more buyer-friendly.   

I THOUGHT – Wow, she is looking at a different house than what I am seeing and smelling.  This house is cluttered with toys.  It reeks of pet odors as well as cigarette and cigar smoke.  And, they seem to have displayed every photo of their three children from birth through high school along with collages of every vacation ever taken.  There is too much stuff in this house on top of being dirty and smelly.  Potential buyers and their Realtors will walk in this place, turn right around and leave with no regrets.  

Not Ready for Prime Time 

SHE SAID – My house is ready to list.  It is close enough.  Plus, we need to get it on the market before my husband leaves for Houston to start his new job.   

I SAID – I understand your desire to put your house on the market quickly.  In my experience, it is better to wait until it is in near mint condition before listing it.  There is a lot of competition out there and you want to make sure your house looks its best from the first day it is shown. 

I THOUGHT – This place is not ready for prime time.  It could benefit from new paint especially in the rooms with the cracks and holes.  The carpeting is soiled and needs to be cleaned at a minimum.  They can put it on the market now but it is highly, highly unlikely that it will sell.  And the Realtors who see it in this condition are not likely to come back and show it again.  It is a real mistake to list any house before it is ready for prime time!  

Whatever the case may be, the common denominator is that the seller is often unrealistic about their house and its value on the market; defensive about any real or perceived criticisms of their house; and, resistant to making any changes suggested by their Realtor or the consulting home stager. 

The bottom line is that I really want to help these people sell their houses.  But I need them to help me help them.  Their Realtor and I know what works in our market and what potential buyers want in a home.  In most cases, the seller does not know even if they think they do. 

The possibilities increase dramatically when the seller listens and acts on the advice and recommendations of their professionals – Realtor and home stager.

Dwell in possibilities

Cindy