Misunderstood

Empty and broom clean.  The most misunderstood words in real estate. This is not rocket science, but time and again, excited buyers show up at a walkthrough to find an assortment of haphazard randomness in basements, garages, and sheds. The day they have been anticipating for weeks is clouded by an unsightly mess of leftover chemicals, paint cans, shelving units and garden tools. When I bought the house I’m in now, my own walkthrough was like The Nightmare Before Christmas with an artificial tree as the victim. From the look of the stains and needles on the carpet, that poor tree put up an impressive fight.  

If you don’t want these things, what makes you think the buyers are going to be thrilled with your parting gifts?  A common defense by sellers is that the items were ‘there when they bought the home’.  Just because someone else did it does not make it right. If you are planning to leave anything extra, these items need to be on the inventory that is presented to buyers when the home is listed.  They will review that list and sign it to confirm their acceptance or negotiate otherwise. Sometimes during the course of packing, you realize there are items not listed on your inventory that you would like to leave. This is okay.  Simply reach out to your agent and say, “Hey, can you check to see if buyers want the shelving in the basement and the garden tools in the shed?  Would they like the paint for touch ups?”  Do this several weeks before closing so there is time to plan for the removal of the items buyers do not want. 

A home purchase represents a new beginning for your buyer and your actions have the power to shape their first impression.  Do not etch a holiday decor crime scene (or worse) in their memory forever.