U.S. Realtor Has Harsh Words for Some Home Sellers
Tough economics times can bring out either the best or the worst in us. In a recent article, Texas realtor Paul Pastore reminds sellers to be realistic when it comes to pricing and presenting their home for sale. While his advice is timely, his language is at times a bit harsh. (Be warned!)
Here, in his own words, are six key points from his article:
Pet Addiction: The feeling that everybody loves your pet as much as you do. Symptoms include scripts such as, “His bark is worse than his bite”. Or, “The cat must like you to nestle in your lap”. Or, “Don’t put your finger in the cage”.
Photorea: A need to keep dozens of old photos hung to distract a buyer’s attention from the real property. A variation of this virus includes ‘childhood incrementalism’. Monthly photos of the first born that are in chronological order as a buyer ascends the stairs.
‘As-Is’ ism: If a stubborn seller says, “The buyer can take it or leave it as-is” ; they usually won’t. Buyers ‘horribilize’ defects. A broken doorbell symbolizes electrical problems. A cracked window means a faulty foundation. Water stains come before roofing problems and future floods.
Colour Blindness: Webster’s dictionary defines a real estate tour as, “Agents caravanning from house to house making fun of decorating disasters”. Most color schemes are ephemeral. Navajo white, white washed cabinets, and flocked wallpaper are out. Less is usually more.
Audio Selectivism: The ability of a seller to hear only what they want. “The buyer must be confused”. “The appraiser was in a bad mood”. “My neighbour said I wasn’t asking enough”. There is a difference between hearing and listening.
Priceaphobia: The fear that a property will sell for less than a premium price. Price and greed combine to form a drug like addiction to unrealistic expectations. Researchers are split in attributing this to heredity or stupidity.
As many of you know, I’ve written extensively about home-selling in the past, so some of Pastore’s points may seem redundant. The reason I highlight them here again is to hammer home how important they are.
Not surprisingly, home buyers can accept the realities of the housing market much easier than most home sellers. Evidence of this is how Toronto-area buyers have, for the last ten years, been paying the full asking price and above because of the reality of the market place.
It’s now time for you as a home seller to understand that the tables have been turned. It is a buyers market, which means you may need to make a mental adjustment if you are to entice buyers to your home.
Realistic pricing and presentation can mean the difference between selling or living through a mind-numbing six month ordeal. It’s your choice.
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[...] Original post by California Community Guide – Real Estate in CA – Homes for Sale [...]