How To NOT Sell Your House

**mndtrp** · 07-12-2010, 10:02 PM

There were more than a few houses I walked into with my realtor that were filthy. We just looked at each other, rolled our eyes, and just used the location to see what I did or didn't like about that particular floorplan.

**khaski** · 07-14-2010, 02:02 PM

My fave when we were househounting- the masking tape over the HOLE in the bathtub, along with the half-painted walls and Homer Simpson self built deck that was -almost- 3/4 done. Although they did play light music and leave scented candles burning, we somehow managed to avoid their lure and refrained from purchasing that gem.

**bumplett** · 07-14-2010, 02:21 PM

love the shiny ankle braclet! but hey, at least he was following the rules, right?!

the little things never bother me when househunting - those are the things that belong to the seller, and will follow the seller to their new place as well - such as tacky taste, and poor housekeeping skills - you have to look beyond those things and see the possibilities of the house itsself.

On a serious note - what would people really like sellers to do with their pets?

I could clean the litter box with soap/water/bleach/ or heck, buy a brand new box for every viewing, but 2 seconds before you walk in the door - one of the cats could have JUST used the box. (actually, I do have one that insists on using the box AS you try to scoop it)

so really, those aren't things that people can control - another example would be the dogs - well, I personally would put the dogs in their crates, but that only means that you'd have 3 large barking dogs in crates - but they wouldn't be able to jump/eat you. That seems better than being in the yard, then you wouldn't be able to view the yard.

Sure, in a perfect world, the dogs would go with the homeowner to do whatever the heck homeowners do while their home is being viewed..... but that's not always possible -

and I'm only touching on the more common pets (cats/dogs) How do house hunters out there feel about more "exotic" pets in the home?

hmmmm.....

**Greebo** · 07-14-2010, 03:37 PM

I call houses like those investments. One day, I'll have the cash to buy them after they've been on the market for 5-6 months...

**monkeywrangler71** · 07-14-2010, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by bumplett

On a serious note - what would people really like sellers to do with their pets?

I could clean the litter box with soap/water/bleach/ or heck, buy a brand new box for every viewing, but 2 seconds before you walk in the door - one of the cats could have JUST used the box. (actually, I do have one that insists on using the box AS you try to scoop it)

so really, those aren't things that people can control - another example would be the dogs - well, I personally would put the dogs in their crates, but that only means that you'd have 3 large barking dogs in crates - but they wouldn't be able to jump/eat you. That seems better than being in the yard, then you wouldn't be able to view the yard.

Sure, in a perfect world, the dogs would go with the homeowner to do whatever the heck homeowners do while their home is being viewed..... but that's not always possible -

and I'm only touching on the more common pets (cats/dogs) How do house hunters out there feel about more "exotic" pets in the home?

hmmmm.....

Interesting question. I've looked at maybe 50 houses over the years, I'd estimate there were dogs living in about 60-70% of them, and this was the first time one was actually in the house when we were looking. I don't know where they go. I know, personally, I would prefer them in the yard if possible, and definitely not blocking entry into the livingroom. I think most people look in the yard last, and the decision is already made at that point, so the yard is probably less distracting than the crate.

I've been in many houses with cats without being overwhelmed by the litterbox. One that is cleaned regularly is barely noticeable, one that is never cleaned can knock you over at the front door.

I've never encountered an exotic pet. It wouldn't bother me in a cage. But a giant python or a howler monkey roaming free in the house and I'm pretty sure I would just leave.

**craftypam** · 07-14-2010, 04:53 PM

When looking for a house I was always amazed at how good the houses looked on paper and how horrible they were in person. We actually looked at a house that had a huge hole in the basement wall; actually looking like they were trying to put the basement under the fr.

**MyMelody** · 07-14-2010, 08:03 PM

Or, have a huge stack of um, erotic reading material in the master bathroom in plain sight. Happened to us when we house-hunted earlier this year.

**bumplett** · 07-15-2010, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

. It wouldn't bother me in a cage. But a giant python or a howler monkey roaming free in the house and I'm pretty sure I would just leave.

And then could you imagine if it GOT OUT of the house while people were viewing??!!

**pita1213** · 07-16-2010, 08:38 PM

The houses we looked at that had pets warned us before we went to see them. There were notes in the realtors papers so at least they didn't surprise us. One house had the dog in a crate in the garage and another house had him in the screened in porch in the back yard. The one on the porch freaked out the realtor because he was kinda big, but he was still a puppy and quite friendly. Didn't care that I was there as long as I pet him first. The cats didn't bother me and for the most part ran when you got close.
I do have to agree that cat boxes that don't get cleaned regularly will leave a horrid smell. At one house that had cats, you could smell the urine in the back part of the house, but we never found a cat box. Makes me think they took it out hoping we wouldn't notice. It was one of the houses stuck in the 70's. It had lovely blood red carpet to go with the gold in the wallpaper.
When holding an open house yourself, find somewhere for the kids to go. It's kinda off putting when you go to look at a bedroom only to find a toddler in a diaper sitting in the middle of the bed. And it's not a fun experience to try to dodge the kids running through the hall and up and down the stairs.

**britbunny** · 07-21-2010, 06:41 AM

Having just bought a house I am loving these stories! We viewed a house that claimed to have a fitted kitchen, we got there and there was just an oven in the middle of the room and nothing else - other than a carpet that I think was older than me.

We viewed another house and were told to stay out of one room as someone had a hangover and refused to get out of bed. Funnily enough we ended up buying a vacant property.

In terms of pets, I refused to put my pets outside when our house was on the market. It was winter and they are indoor rabbits. It actually worked well for us as it made the room appear huge and the lady of the couple is a big bunny lover so I think it won her over!

**larabelle** · 07-21-2010, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lady_V

While trying not to sell your house... take a page from one of my adventures --- Have a creepy guy sitting on the sofa in the living room who can't leave because he has a shiny bracelet on his ankle...

Oh that is just tooooo funny!!! I am sitting at my desk cracking up laughing...hope the boss does not walk by!!!

**bumplett** · 07-21-2010, 05:59 PM

my bet is that it's not the litter box that smells - it's the cats marking something - the walls, furniture, etc.... those are the smells that are soooo hard to clean away.

makes me dread moving again -

all the more reason to never move - right?

**alarosalpn** · 07-25-2010, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

Oh oh I have one...

~Make sure your house is all done in the 70s! From the original avocado green appliances (and carpet!) in the kitchen, to the dark paneling in the living room to the gold lame wallpaper in the master bath to the SHAG carpet on the WALLS of a bedroom.

I would turn around and walk out as soon as I saw that. Think of all the dust and dust mites that are trapped in that rug!
Did they have to vacuum the walls?! lol