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I was visiting an open house on Sunday, an early 1990's farm house, wrap around porch, 2 barns (one converted to a 3 car garage) 2 storey, 4 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath.
The first floor was heavily decorated and loads of "stuff". OK...these folks live in and love their home.
The second floor was virtually impassable.
One bedroom had a pile of trash (I couldn't even tell you what it was) piled in the middle of the floor and I couldn't even get past the thresholds of the other 3 bedrooms.
So my ? for the agents, How do you deal with an eccentric seller? I am sure you advise them to pack away their stuff and accentuate the features of the home. But what if they don't take your advice? (as in this case).
My ? for buyers- can you see past all the stuff and appreciate the hidden historic/architectural features?
I can see past the "stuff" but if there's too much, how can you tell the condition of the house? I would also wonder if the house was maintained properly.
I can see past the "stuff" but if there's too much, how can you tell the condition of the house? I would also wonder if the house was maintained properly.
Exactly!
The conundrum.....the exterior of the home looked well maintained.
The interior....too cluttered, inaccessible to determine.
The kitchen had stainless appliances.....ok... nice......but I couldn't even get into the bedrooms to see if they had closets!
My buyers and I walked into a home like that once, and I told them if they made an offer we would have to write in a contingency that the stuff was moved out prior to the home inspection so that it could be done.
I'm not sure I would list a house like that. It would depend on whether or not the sellers were making progress on their stuff.
My bet is they "cleaned up" for the open house. That's why you were able to navigate the downstairs. As for the upstairs-- look on the bright side? In an old house like that, you know there are wood floors. If no one has seen the wood floors in YEARS, chances are, they haven't gotten all scratched up.
I can see past that. But an inspector can't. Definitely want the place cleaned out for inspection.
My bet is they "cleaned up" for the open house. That's why you were able to navigate the downstairs. As for the upstairs-- look on the bright side? In an old house like that, you know there are wood floors. If no one has seen the wood floors in YEARS, chances are, they haven't gotten all scratched up.
I can see past that. But an inspector can't. Definitely want the place cleaned out for inspection.
LOL- Never thought about that! There was a *hint* of hardwood on the main floor but you couldn't even see the floor on the second level. That hardwood might just be pristine!
Sounds to me like this might be a potential divorce situation and someone does not want the home to sell.
Yeah, I don't know why they are selling. But my sense was that this was years and years and years of *cocooning*. The home made me feel very uncomfortable, like there was some serious sickness going on in there.
Sellers like this have got to be an agents' worst nightmare.
Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA & El Pescadero, BCS MX.
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LOL that house reminds me of my volunteer firefighter days. Show up in the early morning to a house full of smoke but not much heat. I think I fell down (breathing apparatus and all) about 10 times trying to find the source of the smoke. We got the place ventilated and I was blown away by how little of the floor space was traverse able. I don't think the guy had ever thrown anything away. If it had actually been a working fire, the fuel load in the place would have made it almost impossible to contain.
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