Real Estate Agents: Tell Buyers the TRUTH! by Feng Shui Long Island NY Consultant
Yes, it's a mini rant....or maybe not so mini.. I DO know it's only a few percentage of Real Estate Agents that do this but you may be wasting your OWN time!
I've now seen several properties listed on the MLS. After finding out I WAS allowed to attend Open Houses, I've gone to a few. All of them found on the MLS and every one of them need to clarify things. In other words, BE HONEST!!
If there's no Open House I have to call my Real Estate Agent who then has to make contacts and appointments and has offered to even pick me up and take me to the listing. Here is some of what I've seen in the short time I've been looking to buy a home on Long Island:
Move Right In: The ‘Move Right In' house. We've all seen these listings. You expect to find the home in pretty good condition, right? Except you notice that the roof is falling down...and the carpet they put upstairs (including in the bathroom) has an uneven floor underneath. None of the doors upstairs open OR close because the carpet is too thick. Who do I move in with, a Roofer AND a plumber? Or should I find someone who does floors?
Mrs. Clean Lives Here: I'm NOT kidding, I saw a home listed this way with only a few pictures. Not only does Mrs. Clean NOT live there, I don't even think she VISITS. My feet stuck to the floor....especially in the kitchen while I was trying to figure out what the brown stuff on the walls were.
Mint, Immaculate: I had to ask what type of floors were underneath the clothes and furniture. I also noticed I had the exact same pots and pans but mine weren't in the sink.
Park Like Grounds: It was a beautiful backyard. The only problem is that the parkway was right behind it. RIGHT behind it. That's a deal breaker for me. It is a good thing I didn't go by the picture on the MLS anyway because it had snow on the ground.
Just Bring a Paintbrush: I have no problem bringing not only a Paintbrush but an actual Painter. Problem was the walls were down (although laying neatly by the side of the house). This listing DID have an element of truth: Walls can go up or down....YOU decide. I decided to buy a house with walls.
As a buyer, this is what I'd love to see on the MLS: An accurate description which includes the Good and the not so Good. I'd know before hand if it's a property I'd even consider. This would not only save ME time but it would certainly save my Realtor HER time. Sellers: Clean up...we DO notice!
It's tough enough working with two Feng Shui Consultants in buying a new home on Long Island NY! I'm surprised my Realtor is working with me (although she knows and believes in Feng Shui). Maybe, just MAYBE we could all save some time by being honest.
Long Island Feng Shui Consultations by Carole Provenzale http://www.FengShuiLI.com
Manhattan -- New York City -- NYC Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano: http://www.ManhattanFengShui.com
Good rant... yes, you are right, be honest for sure. I work in a resort area and people drive a long way to come see my listings and I definitely do not want to them to be upset with me for misleading them... I take all of my own pictures, no fish eye lens and I do a good job of really showing the real home.
Carole you are so right! Where are the ethics here from our fellow professionals. Marketing to get activity is paramount, however, honesty, is always the best policy. Your reputation and character sustain you overtime in your realtor career. I personally cannot tolerate all this negative energy.
Carole, I had my 2 minutes of silence, and came to visit you .. and boy oh boy, do I agree with your rant. :) I don't appreciate the half truths in listings either, so I usually visit some of them before taking my clients, because some of the descriptions sound way too good to be true (and when you look at the price and the description, you know it just can't be).
At this point in my life, though, I'd love to move in with a plumber, a painter, and a guy with a big snow shovel LOL :)
It's things like this that make it a challenge every day for both buyers and agents alike.
I feel for you Carole. It's kind of frustrating isn't it?
Carole ..it really jives with my post does it not?? honesty is the best policy and can certtainly keep you out of trouble in the long run.. Good Luck with your search ..Please keep us informed..Thanks..:0)
HELPFULHANNAH
Carole, I enjoyed your unvarnished sounding off! It is unfortunate that some agents do exaggerate the "qualities" of the property. It certainly can backfire with the listing agent. Thanks for the continued update, and it will be great when you share with us, "THE HOUSE" when you find it.
Carole- It is a problem that has made it through the ages. Annoying? Yes. Gonna change? No. Just keep an open mind and move on. Cant wait to hear what draws you to THE house you do buy. :0)
Carole ~ Glad that you wrote this post. As you know I specialize in working with buyers only, so I am well aware of buyer's reactions to these types of statements... and then we get to the properties and find a very different story. I won't even give feedback to these agents/sellers... it is a waste of everyone's time. When they take pictures without showing the huge powerlines behind the house or the very long driveway which has to be plowed... do they really think the Buyer won't notice???? Ok, now you have me going (lol). This is what my buyers had to go through recently... they didn't appreciate it!
Carole,
True, true, true....I never put move in ready, unless it's new construction. there is a lot of stuff out there one has to weed through. Good luck!! :)
Kim, It can be very frustrating for everyone. I'd rather know instead of wasting so much time...I can't imagine how frustrating it must be in a resort area!
Eileen, I don't know why they're misrepresenting the listings. I know exactly what I want and don't want and so many of these are just a waste of everyone's time and energy.
Sylvie, You always make me laugh. We really shouldn't have any trouble finding plumbers and roofers (and electricians :) if we combined our forces. Maybe you should move here...I've got a few in mind!
Craig, It is SO frustrating. Honestly, I wish I knew about the highway...how could they not mention that the roof was bad? It's really a misrepresentation and such a waste.
Hannah, It does...I don't know why they think you are going to overlook these things but they're not simple things, they are expensive and in some cases (such as the parkway) things you can't "fix."
Sharon, I'm hoping I find it--and getting a little worried that I won't in my price range. The homes that truly have been taken care of are $50-$70,000 more then the price range I'm looking in :(
Martha, I can't either...wait, I mean. These are just regular homes (Levitt) that I'm looking at...the prices exceed $350 and the taxes are close to $10,000. To find a home in good condition in that price range here may not be possible.
Joan, I feel worse dragging my realtor out to look and see those powerlines. The other house was so noisy from the parkway which was right behind it. If that was mentioned, I wouldn't gone and wasted everyone's time. I have to say the Sellers are probably not co-operating as well, what a mess in some of these homes. They're not making it any easier to sell.
Debbie, I would have my home spotless for a showing...absolutely spotless. It's not only the realtors, it's also the sellers which is so sad that they're not getting it.
hey Carole...Maybe some of the scripts fall under the MARKETING efforts...at least trying to get prople looking, and maybe being creative... But I do know what you mean...it gets to a point of complete denial by the listing agent. I, personally, don't fell a house in "move in ready" unless I smell cookies baking in the oven when I walk in :-)
Hi Carole.... loads of exaggerations out there aren't there? Surprise surprise.... we will ALWAYS see this, because either the Lister SEES it this way in THEIR mind, OR the Lister is seeking to attract attention to the property! I don't believe this is going to change, seriously, this is something we will have to put up with!! Perhaps being in property management has prepped me.... i've seen it all!
Oh these Realtors, they sure are a "creative" bunch but you are right. I am glad you have one of the good ones!
Hi Carole,
Amen! It's these Realtor that give the rest of us nightmares (not to mention a bad name).
Carole, that's why public have hard times believing us in general, and I really can't blame them either.
Carole,
It is really a shame that a home seller would not clean up their home and have it professionally cleaned weekly while it is on the market. These few Realtors are going to give the industry a bad image if they are misrepresenting properties just to generate traffic.
-Kate
Carole, As I was reading, I was laughing harder and harder at each section because...............you are RIGHT!
When I search for clients a lot of the pictures are blurry, dark and very few are even there. You get 12 pictures to use and most agents do not use all 12 spots.
And, as for snow on the ground, a new picture should go up since seasons do change.
And if the agents aren't telling their sellers to clean up, then shame on them. I feel most do but you can't make a seller clean their own home unfortunately.
Here is a good rule of thumb: if there are only a few pics, there may be a reason for that. I find when there is only a picture of the outside of the house, then something is wrong with the inside.
Sorry you are frustrated. I know how you feel coming from the other side. It's frustrating for us agents because our clients get frustrated.
Mara, It can be very discouraging. Everything sounds just perfect...you think maybe this is IT...and find major issues. I think it would save time to be a little more honest.
Diane, I'm kind of sorry to hear this...that you've seen it all. The listing agent can see the roof is bad; I'm no expert and I can see it! It would help to mention major things.
Crystal, Mine is a doll. When I apologize for dragging her out to one of these homes, she just says not to worry, it's her job :) I do feel badly but can't believe what we're coming across.
Cynthia, Honestly, I think it's not ethical to do this...some of the descriptions are SO off it's incredible. What a waste of time.....
Rita, It's sad that in any profession you're going to find unprofessionals...Nothing can really be done.
Kate, I can tell you one thing, I would REFUSE to show a dirty home. Period. If they couldn't be bothered to clean it and pick up the clothes, I wouldn't be bothering to try to sell it. I would think getting them to stage would be impossible.
Jackie, I have for years been seeing the WORST pictures on our MLSLI. I don't know how they get away with posting them! Even Newsday had an article a week asking the realtors to RETAKE a picture....what is it they don't get??
Carol: I agree and I keep a list of agents in my area that are known to do this and think twice before showing their listings. As a listing agent, we do want to put our best foot forward for the seller who we represent and highlight the best attributes of a property. If I say move in ready, you can take it to the bank that it's move in ready. The agent gets a bad rep from exaggerating and in the long run does not help that agent or their seller. I would much rather have a rep for being too honest that have any doubt cast that I was being less than. And as for a house that is not clean, I do not list it, period. I hope you find that perfect house soon. My best.
Carole,
Thanks for the evening laughs!
It is amazing what words some agents use to get people through their listings....I guess it's all a matter of who's eyes you are seeing it out of. Last week I was showing a house that was so dirty I hated even walking on the carpet and couldn't wait to get out....it had been described as 'attractive and homey'.
Jo
Back before I was a Realtor, I was a home inspector. We did an inspection on a 15,000-sf mansion that was advertised as move-in ready, and since it was brand new construction, the buyers were planning on moving in that weekend since they didn't expect anything to be wrong. We started the inspection on Monday. The home had five heating and cooling systems, three water heaters, a huge spa heater, two kitchens with four ovens and 26 cooktop burners. All gas fired. The problem? No gas meter. Ergo, no gas to the property. Buyer was not happy. We finished the inspection three weeks later.
(LOL to Jims comment, again!) Since I have moved so many times, I have become quite the cynic about "descriptions". As a stager, and the hubs being quite handy, we never shy away from "fixers", but EVEN those are becoming less and less honest, sort of like the "walls can go up or down".