Yesterday I showed my buyer clients four wonderful homes in the areas of Old Bridge, South Amboy, Marlboro and Manalapan...desirable towns in Monmouth and Middlesex County New Jersey.
Each home was beautiful in it's own way; amazing views, upgraded galore inside, granite countertops, premium cabinetry...you name it, these homes have it!
However, there were two unwelcoming and undesirable features that 3 of the 4 homes offered, and frankly these things overshadowed many of the home's key selling points.
ICY FRONT STEPS AND AN ICY DRIVEWAY!!!
My buyer client (the husband) spent 10 minutes each (20 minutes total) at 3 of the 4 homes, helping me (his agent) and his wife (the other buyer) up and down the driveway and steps. In a brief moment of panic his wife nearly slid down the driveway, and I almost busted my knee on the icy rear steps trying to put the keys back in the lockbox. It was absolutely ridiculous!
I couldn't believe that anyone who is in the process of trying to sell their home, would leave their home's exterior so vulnerable, especially considering the snow and rain stopped 24 hours prior.
So, instead of the final moments of our time together in the frigid cold being spent on recapping the appeal of the homes, my clients instead expressed how annoyed and turned off they were. They were so disgusted by the way the homeowners neglected to remove the ice from the property.
Not only have those sellers of 3 of the 4 homes compromised their potential for a sale, but they've also put themselves in jeopardy to be sued. If someone goes to view their home, and they slip & fall, they might file a lawsuit!
WHO LOSES IN THIS INSTANCE & WHY?
1. The seller loses...Why? They may lose great buyers (like mine) whose current home is paid off, and they don't need to sell it in order to buy a different home.
2. The seller loses...Why?They may get sued if someone falls and gets hurt, thus making their homeowners insurance premium go up!
3. The buyer's agent loses...Why? They could fall, get hurt and then be out of work with no income coming in. Then what? If they don't have disability insurance they're going to be in trouble.
4. The seller's agent and the buyer's agent lose...Why? They both could lose out on their commission, thus compromising their potential income.
WORD TO THE WISE...
- Listing/Seller's Agents: Double-check each of your listings, and make sure you sellers have have shoveled, put salt down and taken measures to remove any snow and/or ice.
- Home Sellers: Please double-check to make sure you have no icy walkways, steps or driveways, before you have the next buyer take a look at your home.
I'd like to think that most people are honest (like my buyer clients whom I showed those four homes). However I am not naive, and I realize there are unscrupulous people in the world who would deliberately take advantage of others for their own personal gain.
Don't forget folks...we ARE in a recession and some good people just desperately need money.
Let's not give anyone opportunity to prey on homeowners trying to sell their houses...Please REMOVE the snow & ice!
Stay motivated,
Amber
