Comments on: Don’t Want To Sell Your House? Do These Things

By: Kevin at OutOfYourRut

Kevin at OutOfYourRut — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:03:53 +0000

I’ve removed wall paper from two houses, and it was nasty both times. It seldom comes off easily and never uniformly. If a house has too much wall paper, I’d probably pass on it. A house can be painted neutral colors, but wall paper is never neutral. Unless you had it installed you’ll almost certainly want to get rid of it sooner rather than later.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:10:29 +0000

When I was looking at houses, I always hated when people were around (even if they were hidden in a back room, etc). I never felt like I could actually talk with my wife/realtor about what I liked and didn’t because I thought the person was listening in.

Also, the no personal items thing I think gets a bad rap. I think if you have a reasonable amount of family photos etc, no one will notice or care. I think the intent of the suggestion is for “stuff”. My wife and I took about 50 boxes out of our house prior to putting it on the market. Basically if we didn’t need it in the next 3 or 4 months, it got boxed up and moved out. The reason why they suggest you do this is so that spaces look bigger and more appealing. If you are looking at a house and can’t open the closet because there is so much junk crammed in there, you have no idea what you’ll get if you buy it…

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:05:36 +0000

That is insane! I would have crapped my pants.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:31:11 +0000

Ouch. I haven’t painted yet, but I lightly primed it…

By: Fred

Fred — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:25:40 +0000

It is DEFINITELY better to remove the wallpaper first. Wallpaper should never be painted. When you paint wallpaper, you put a waterproof coating over the paper that prevents any glue solvent from getting through the paper when you want to remove it. And you (or the next person) will want to remove it.. because eventually it will scar / rip / tear / peel on some portion of the wall.

Trust me. Been there.

By: thomas

thomas — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:53:56 +0000

I was looking at a house one time, the phone rang, and the dude pops out of the freaking foyer closet. I also have a story involving a raccoon, but that’s too good to share

By: Paularado

Paularado — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:39:25 +0000

We sold our house FSBO because I couldn’t leave my geriatric 100# dog there with strangers. She would have mauled them with love. I figured most agents and potential buyers wouldn’t appreciate trying to fight off a 100 pound akita trying to lick their face. So, when people came over, the dog and I went to the back of the yard and hung out to give people the opportunity to look around. It may have been awkward for some, but it’s what I had to do. Oh, and then I saved several thousand dollars…..yes, there’s that!

By: Martha

Martha — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:19:36 +0000

For one open house that I have attended it was helpful to have the owner present. I think its different when you’re at an open house compared to when seriously inpsecting it for purchase.

I looked at really old home from it was really intersting to have the current owner explain how she updated during the last 30 years. However it was not good to hear that she and her husband were going to move right down the street. That put me off quite a bit – espeically if you want to get a good deal for a home. They may not want to be your neighbor after you squeeze every penny out of them

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:46:34 +0000

We all can’t be perfect with our grammar.

By: aa

aa — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:29:26 +0000

When did “me” become a verb? “If you don’t me to buy your home”

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:26:41 +0000

Probably better, but much more difficult.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:24:39 +0000

I would think it’s better to remove the wallpaper first, no sense leaving it under there where moisture can get in.

By: Rob Carlson

Rob Carlson — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:23:04 +0000

The sellers of my current house did all these things wrong and I got a great deal because I was able to look past them to the quality of the home. I bet they still wonder why my low-ball offer was one of the only ones they received.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:20:17 +0000

#4 – You can actually paint over wallpaper if it’s in good shape and you prime it first.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:15:29 +0000

You can do whatever you want and people choose not to buy your house, I understand it’s important to take care of your business and staying in the office (rather than watching TV in the living room) is probably the best option, your indignation towards the very people you want to buy your house seems a bit odd.