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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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WWYD: Home Improvement
So we have had our house up for sale since August. We have only had a couple of people to come look at it. Since we want to move this summer we have decreased our price. We have now considered getting the outside of the house painted. It is the last major project that needs to be done to it.... we got a quote for $1200 which i am sure is a fair price but I dont know if its worth it. Here is the listing
http://homes.fayobserver.com/homes/listing/1700-332610
What do you guys think??
Re: WWYD: Home Improvement
what does your agent say about it? i'd be really concerned that they aren't getting people to come see it. i'd want feedback from buyers agents, but if none are coming in the door then that's an issue. the brick doesn't look bad. would you be painting the brick or just the trim? does it 'need' painted or do you just feel like an updated color/look would be more complimenting?
The thing is we have heard NOTHING back about any of the people who have come to look - our agent hasnt taken them through - it has been a buying agent. So i have no clue what people have been saying.
Katie- it does need it. there is quite a bit of chipping paint around the place and we replaced the windows 2 years ago so you can kind of tell. The brick is totally fine though. We would paint it all white.
As far as the exterior I think, from the pictures which were tiny on my screen, that it looks good. Only paint if you need it to be fresh and be careful of the color.
And an unsolicited comment from me would be to repaint the living room and get some smaller, more modern couches.
thanks for the feedback. I dont think we were looking to paint anything on the inside or purchase new furniture. (totally not in the budget) We painted the red only 2 years ago and honestly i know it isnt for everyone but at least it is a pretty job.
the new pics I can do. The realtor took those herself when we signed our contract.
as far as painting the outside - we would only paint the wood and it would be all of it. probably white. we didnt pick the yellowy it came on there.
thanks again for the comments. much appreciated.
and here is another listing i found online with a better pic of the front
http://www.realestatebook.com/homes/listing/101-539172946/72-Medical-Center-Rd-Lillington-NC-27546/
It's $1200 to paint that triangle?
If anything, I would paint the shutters instead. Are they wood?
I'd definitely leave the brick alone.
I also agree that you need better pictures on the MLS listing. The first link pics are small and probably don't do your home much justice.
I agree with PP's. I'd do more to the inside. I don't know about replacing the couches, but definitely a more neutral color on the red walls. It isn't just that people don't always like red, but it can be hard to paint over and it might not be a task people are willing to undertake. It seems like a small thing, but tiny little things like that can make or break a sale.
Also I think some curtains would make it homier. Especially in the bedroom
Forget painting the outside unless your realtor says it needs to be done. Put the $1200 on the inside. That's where they're going to be living.
I do not think you need to spend money to paint the house.
There are lots of little things you can do to make it look better online.
Maybe add some large potted plants to either side of the front door and re-take that picture???
I think you need more pictures--larger ones so people can see the rooms. A few pics of each room so people can get a feel for the layout.
I looked on realtor.com [i linked it below], and the pictures there are much easier to see, but there aren't any pictures of the kitchen or the other bedrooms. If there is a deck outside those french doors, I'd put a picture of that, too! Maybe one right when you enter the house.
Are the floors hardwood? I did not see anyhting on the realtor.com listing that said if they were hardwood or not. In fact, there isn't a description on there at all!!
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/72-Medical-Center-Drive_Lillington_NC_27546_1111464264
we just put those up too! no new pics though.
the more you guys say though the more i am coming to get angry at my realtor. i wish she would have been a better help to us. She knows this is our first time selling a house
I feel a little deflated about this.
Also we would paint everything outside except the brick - includes the triangle, shutters, wood things on the porch, etc.
The last link definitely helps to get a better idea, the first one is bad because the pics are so small.
Are you under contract for a full year with your current real estate agent? Generally, there is a point where you can say "look agent, you haven't met our expectations. There has been less than x showings in so many months and I'm sorry but this business relationship isn't working out for us" then list with a new agent.
I don't think you need to paint the exterior of the home for the sale. However, if you're willing to potentially spend $1200 on paint for the exterior, you could easily hire a painter for that amount of money (or do it yourself) and paint the living room a more neutral color.
I also agree with PP that new pictures need to be taken. I looked at the realtor.com link, and you just can't tell much about the rooms at all. It seems to be more pictures of furniture than it is of the actual room. Also, you definitely need pictures of the kitchen. And last, you might want to consider updating your exterior pictures because buyers want to see what the home looks like now, and those appear to be summer pictures.
Okay, I went and looked at the better pictures on Realtor.com - and unless you've been told bad comments about the outside of the house, I wouldn't paint it. It looks like the outbuilding is the same color as the exterior wood of the house, so you'd probably need to paint it as well as the front of the house to match.
If you are willing to spend $1000 to "update" the house a little you should paint the living room and maybe do some flowers around the front since it's becoming Spring. Your realtor is working for you, so if y'all have done something extra to the house (new curtains in bedroom) that will help out the pictures online I'd have her come back out and retake some new pictures.
Hi Becky, I agree with the others--i'd definitely recommend new pictures ASAP. I love red rooms--in fact, my formal living room is red--but it's also a 30 foot x 25 foot room--so it's big enough to handle that bold a color. If you like it, great, but realize that it might turn some folks off from it--but at least it's just paint and not panelling! (If I were a potential buyer, I might ask you to paint that room as a concession, but for me, it wouldn't be a deal breaker like the others mentioned)
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My friend, who is looking at homes like yours (in that price range--too bad she's looking here in GSO) honestly would probably pass over your house because it doesn't have any pictures of the kitchen and the bathroom pictures aren't the best. Also, I didn't notice room dimensions in any of the links--I know my friend and I look at those--especially for the master bedroom. I do think maybe you need to have a serious discussion with your realtor. And don't get turned off--there is always one bad one for every 10 good ones--I think that's the case in almost any service industry. But yes, it does sound like she needs to be advising you a little better--or at least get her poop together (ie update all websites with accurate info and great photos) so your house gets more showings! I would think in your price range, first time homebuyers would be flocking!! Does she not realize that by you lowering your price, HER commission gets reduced? Sheesh. Sorry to add flame to the fire.
I would put as many pics of areas inside and outside that are possible to have in your listing. This may be totally stating the obvious, but I know that when DH and I were looking at houses, if listings were missing pics of key areas like kitchens, not only was I more likely to pass over those homes, but I also assumed the seller was trying to "hide" something (a kitchen in dire need of updating, neglected repairs or whatever) by purposely not including those pics. So show off all that you have!
Good Luck!!
Oh! One other thing- I don't know what anyone else thinks about this, but I might ask your agent to take the part out of the listing about your cats. Personally, I wouldn't care if a seller has animals, but some people can be really funny about houses with pets...and why alienate potential buyers if you don't have to. It's a small thing, but I don't really see why it has to be in the listing. You could put a note on the door before you leave for a showing that would accomplish the same thing, or take the cats with you if you can so no one even knows animals live there.