Special offer
Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED (HomeSmart)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Ha! This is the portion of the program where you speak your truth brutally and honestly . . . and if they can't handle the truth, they are cordially invited to be someone else's problem. If a homeowner does not understand 'every mess or deferred maintenance = less and less cash for you' they are too dumb to work with. And dumb is a liability for us.

Jan 28, 2022 06:26 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,439
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Candice A. Donofrio is right. The conversation with them begins something like "can I be honest with you?  Are you absolutely sure about that?".  Their motivation (or lack of) will likely follow.  

Jan 28, 2022 07:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

This is supposed to be our teaching moment but I find it hard when the basics like floors being washed are not done. If they can't handle that, how are they going to do required maintenance? Oblivious & lazy is what I like to think.

But like Candice said, no upkeep means lower dollars to you. 

Jan 28, 2022 06:48 AM
Ambassador
2,062,085
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Personally, I'd rather disappoint them upfront.

Jan 28, 2022 07:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Tact and honesty and concern are not enough for those with closed minds. They will reject the truth and their minds will not be changed.

Jan 28, 2022 07:07 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Eye-opening events do not disappoint...

Jan 28, 2022 06:26 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Most of the homes I list start out like that. However, thankfully, my clients understand that the home needs to be professionally cleaned, and we get it ready for the prom. We work with what we have - and price it accordingly. 

In my market, those homes are still selling for several hundred thousand dollars above market. And, wait for it, they are appraising! 

Jan 28, 2022 08:15 AM
Rainmaker
584,631
Shayne Stone
HomeSmart - Fulshear, TX
"Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED

My issue basically is that I am seeing this more often. When in the pass people that invited me over, always had their house at least cleaned up with plenty of light. Most people would have been embarrassed to even allow folks inside - NOW it's like I don't give a $HIT... LOL

 

Jan 28, 2022 07:53 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

"Standards" are getting lower, Shayne. 

Slob houses are indicative of the general decline of our once-civilized Society.

Jan 28, 2022 07:59 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Shane,

And here is Candice A. Donofrio to narrate this part of the scenario! You cannot improve on perfection!

Jan 28, 2022 07:29 AM
Ambassador
3,125,942
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Good point Shayne! I previewed a small (around 1,200 sq ft) residential property for a client. It was grimy, with stuff piled halfway up and against the walls in almost every room, plus several dogs and the mattresses were on the floor with kids laying on them...the renter was a nurse at the local hospital...! 👀

Jan 28, 2022 08:54 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,565
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Probably they are hearing buyers are buying everything, no matter in what condition.  Sorry that is all you are seeing.

Jan 28, 2022 07:11 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

The whole truth ... and nothing but the Truth!

Jan 28, 2022 10:19 AM
Rainmaker
1,556,633
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

Nobody takes a rental car through a car wash.  People need to realize a home truly needs to sparkle to get TOP dollar.  Pride of ownership goes a long way.

Jan 28, 2022 09:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Isn't the human species entertaining? God must sit watching and say "What have I done?...lol

Jan 28, 2022 11:02 AM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Next.......unless they understand the real value to expect and then I'd sell it to an investor

Jan 28, 2022 02:22 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

This is where photos of the fixed-up homes come in handy.  This is where my knowledge of fixing up homes benefits me, as I can tell them what it would take to bring their house up to that level.  I have the frank and honest conversation with them and if they ignore the facts, then I wish them the best and refuse to take them on as a client.

Jan 28, 2022 02:16 PM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I once told a homeowner to remove all of the growth from the exterior of their home.  The truth hurt in that case and I lost the listing.  The house sold nine months later $200,000 below the original list price.

Jan 28, 2022 12:24 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

If you don't tell them like it is, someone else will. Or, they'll talk some eager agent into doing what they want, only to waste everyone's time.

Jan 28, 2022 11:44 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

it's very rare that I have that type of condition unless it's a foreclosure.

Jan 28, 2022 11:18 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Go ahead and tell the truth of the past experience gained by decades in this business.
But the next agent WILL list it and it WILL sell at a price the seller accepted. At a price the seller accepted. Those are the operative words. The prelist dance needs to be done with that in mind.
The truth to accept is not that of the seller but the agent.
The 'judgement' often conveyed in ones telling of truth is not beneficial, but the reality of today's world is 'no one really knows anything." So go with the flow, suppress judgement, play the hand you are dealt, or don't.
The agent and the seller need not AGREE but must understand each other. What happens next is simply based on who the seller believes is being served.

Jan 29, 2022 07:10 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,875
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

These shoes are made for walking if we can't come to agreement about what "sale ready" means! Life is too short!

Jan 29, 2022 04:16 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Some people ask for the truth, others do not, some can handle it others cannot.

Jan 29, 2022 02:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,422,313
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

Hi Shayne Stone Well there is a market value for that type of house it is just a different market value than the upgraded homes in the same neighborhood. I like to give them three sets of comps to compare.

1. One for original builder upgrades but worn out and needs work. 

2. Some upgrades of Home Depot quality, nice but not complete

3. Fully upgraded

Let the seller see the differences between these 3 levels of comps and they will see what the price should be.

Jan 28, 2022 07:30 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,833
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

The fun part of our businesses; reality checks!

Jan 28, 2022 06:56 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

In our area any shack will sell. Just handled one all boarded. No one cared about the condition. People will fix it up add a bath or brm put right back on the market. I saw one 5500 sf lot with 3 homes and 2 are not permitted.  People make money lease them out for income.

Feb 04, 2022 06:24 AM
Rainmaker
846,845
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

There is always something different and unusual to deal with.  We just have to grin and bear it.  

Feb 01, 2022 06:45 AM