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Slow boards, so I'm starting a new thread for fun.

What two features of your house would help it sell (if you were wanting to sell)? What one or two things about your house could hinder the sale?

As for me, the pluses:
* Large screened back porch (with porch swing) and deck overlooking woods
* Updated kitchen

The negatives:
* Small shower in the master ensuite
* Just one full bathroom to serve the other three bedrooms

Your turn!

Oh, Jewel you are a Jewel for starting new threads.

Here are the negative turns offs - messy house
smelly house, small bathrooms, no tub, kitchen drawers than sag when opened, old appliances,
bugs, toys in open, toys in yard, rusted swing sets, bad curb appeal, repairs needed, bathrooms off kitchen, busy street, chain link fences and that's just off the top of my head.

Positive turn ons - new kitchen, new baths, new centr H/A, new furnace, new(er) flooring. good maintenance, bigger baths, house with at least a tub, good curb appeal, fenced back yard.

This is fun!

Positives: *600 s.f. addition
*gorgeous new floors

Negatives: *building on the back side of our property
*power lines behind us

positives: great curb appeal for drive-bys
professionally done online pix
and virtual tour
good location
updated kitchens & baths
nicely staged
clean, clean, clean

negatives: the opposites of the positives
power lines
poor maintenance, water damage
neighborhood issues, e.g. security
issues, poorly maintained, bad
location

Oops, guess I answered this generally from constantly touring homes - not WRT one of my properties.

Oh, no no no, REL and RErocker!

This isn't a generic Q & A! Your reply is supposed to reference your current personal home, not just what makes for negs/positives of random homes on the market in general.

Notice that Hfawn and I stated specific things about our own homes in our responses. That's the way it's done! Try, try again!

Oh shoot .. I wasn't writing about my house..just my experience with buyers in general.

now I see the word "your" ECCKKK!

My house:
Positives- wharf over waterfront, new dock, 10,000 lb boat hoists, 800 sq. ft. veranda overlooking waterway, jacuzzi, front walled
garden area 400 sq. ft. with rod iron gate, 2 car garage, total back of home overlooks water through sliders. Dream house.

negatives; need to replace carpet in some areas and continue tile, need new kitchen and appliances, need to remodel baths, needs good clean out of stuff. Never find time to do this stuff.

..........and wouldn't sell anyway LOL!

What would sell my house-
*Amazing kitchen remodel-modern and uncluttered
* even better family room- large, zen-like, uncomplicated
*clean...clean...clean

What would keep my house from selling?
*Over saturated market of homes in this price range
* I'm about a 1/4 mile from the interstate...some people might think that's a turn off......the road sounds are like white noise for me Some people it might bother though.

j

Great thread, Jewel!

Positives:

1. Fantastic, incredible 280 degree views of river, valley across river and mountains beyond the valley.
2. Dual Master Bedrooms (or you could say master suite with a full guest suite as one is larger than the other). Each with walk-in closets, full bathrooms and individual slide-outs onto second-story redwood deck.
3. Gourmet kitchen with all the bells and whistles plus beautiful cherry wood cabinets, open floor plan between the LR, DR area and kitchen with huge windows so as to enjoy the view at all times.
4. Eight and a half acres surrounding the house with 1/4 mile private drive insuring total peace, quiet and privacy.
5. Three car garage including a fourth bathroom, separate 36x36 insulated shop with power and loft space plus horse facility with barn.

Negatives:

1. Lay-out is not conducive to families with children. Although technically it is a three bedroom, there are really only the two main bedroom suites - we use the third with french doors into the main living area as a library/den.
2. The large acreage with private drive must be maintained so many would not like the work involved as well as the privacy factor; some might feel isolated, especially families with children who would prefer near-by playmates.
3. The fact that it is a two-story with three landings and lots of windows to keep clean.

Funny. As I read back through my response, it seems that what is a plus for some, might be a negative for others!

Oops, Jewel, just re-read the parameters of your post to state 2 positive, 2 negative which I exceeded so here is a do-over:

Positives:

1. Location of house.
2. Type of house.

Negatives:

1. Location of house.
2. Type of house.

Fun thread!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident,

2 positives: custom built home with large rooms, lots of storage and many unique features. Close enuff to "civilization" (adult activities & schools, bus route, shopping) without "crazies"

Cons: only 1 1/2 baths; can't open windows/doors if a strong north wind is blowing.

I almost relocated. twice - but why move when it's a day trip to enjoy the ocean or the high Sierras

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tessa89,

Positives:
3 full baths (all with tubs)
Decent size bedrooms
spacious home

Negatives:
deferred maintenance (painitng, etc.)
lacking curb appeal
No granite or update appliances

This is interesting since I should be under contract by the end of the day (fingers crossed).

In the past what has kept it from selling: the economy, the proximity to a ranch held in a family trust, Corian not granite in the kitchen and our unusual geothermal HVAC and rain catchment water system.

What appears to have brought us a contract: someone with money! the beautiful country location with the neighboring ranch, our staging and decor (they want part of our furniture, window treatments, etc. included in the deal, and they "get" the geothermal HVAC and rain catchment. Did I mention the oversized 3 car garage that is perfect for his classic corvette?

Of course, I am still waiting for the final contract to be signed and forwarded to us. So...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gwenda,

Yeah, Gwenda! Is this the buyer from the Northeast who had their house to sell or
someone else?

Edited to add: I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a rain-catchment system!

Congratulations, Gwenda! Hope it's smooth sailing to closing plus relocating to your new home -


Positives: 1. location, location, location
2. size of lot and home

Negatives 1. updates in progress (should turn into a positive shortly)
2. size WRT cleaning and maintenance

Always a few items make both lists!

custom log home
situated at lake edge


could seem too remote for some folks
limited shopping could be an issue for some (no mega malls for over an hour's drive)

quote:

Originally posted by real estate lady:
Oh shoot .. I wasn't writing about my house..just my experience with buyers in general.

now I see the word "your" ECCKKK!

My house:
Positives- wharf over waterfront, new dock, 10,000 lb boat hoists, 800 sq. ft. veranda overlooking waterway, jacuzzi, front walled
garden area 400 sq. ft. with rod iron gate, 2 car garage, total back of home overlooks water through sliders. Dream house.

negatives; need to replace carpet in some areas and continue tile, need new kitchen and appliances, need to remodel baths, needs good clean out of stuff. Never find time to do this stuff.

..........and wouldn't sell anyway LOL!

And here is the funny thing...if you switched your 2 and made the negatives the positives & reverse...that would suit me just fine! I don't ever want to live on the water or have dock to maintain! I don't really care for the "modern" kitchens...I don't like granite counters or flat top stoves!


Mine...

positive...
5+/- acre front yard with some landscaping (all done by me & is a work in progress).
54' front porch
ample deck in back
out buildings that can used for different purposes.
Cottage attached to shop building (income or guest)
large utility room (washer, dryer, 2 freezers)
2 plug outlets to every wall
multipule tv/computer hookup locations
stone fireplace...inside & out
mostly floored attic
metal roof
large pantry & seperate cleaning closet



negative....
NO granite counters
Old fashioned carpet...what I wanted & what I got.
Rural...only "some" people like living out.
Nothing fancy in the house, all space useable.
Only a carport, no closed garage.

We aren't interested in ever selling. We built this house to live in until we die!
We also have some built in things for "old age"...wide hall, will accomadate wheelchairs; handle on wall in m bath for help getting up; galley type kitchen that will accomadate wheelchairs; tall toilets; easy to build ramp for front porch.


So it all depends on your lifestyle whether or not an item is a positive or a negative!

Positive
1. Sweet curb appeal with great landscaping.
2. Just about fully renovated.

Negative
1. Needs new kitchen
2. I want a lot of money.

We sold because of the positive and in spite of the negative.

We are selling soon!

Negatives: only one bathroom.
No bathroom upstairs. (we could fit a 1/2 bath... Should we do it?)
Modern design for exterior.
Shed roof
Sloped ceilings upstairs.
Kid damage (5 year old twins) to maple floors, woodwork,etc.
Toys everywhere!
Road noise.
Carpet upstairs, and in drop down living room.
No dining room.
Steep dirt driveway.
Garage at bottom of steep driveway.
2 houses on one property, although completely secluded from each other. Lower, street level property section, then upper with main house. (this can be a positive too).


Positives:
Everything is new and remodeled in 2003.
New furnace.
New kitchen w/ stainless and quartz countertops.
Solid maple floors,on main floor.
Wrap around deck with composit material. (new in 2009)
Private
Perennials and trees lovely.
Built in custom storage everywhere.
Unique layout.
Built in "playhouse" for kids inside.
Tasteful and timeless decor, paint, and permanent fixture choices.
Hot tub on deck.
Stars, nature, fireflies, even though we are very close to town.
Property includes lovely barn, with enough land for boarding horses in winter, spring, fall. (not enough grass for summer)
Remodeled rental property 1700's cape) on lower level of property.
Rentals, horse boarding could cover mortgage.
Big yard attached to both houses.

Well my take on my house is:
Positives:
1.Live on a beautiful all sports lake with 80 ft of frontage, permament dock and boathouse for storage.
2. Gorgeous view from interior(24x24 greatroom), that opens to 40' front deck, that then wraps abound both sides of home.
3. Updated kitchen with new appliances and granite countertop and backsplash.
4. Whole house generator that comes on automatically when needed-no hook ups required.
5. Fabulous great room on the walkout lower level with wall of sliders.
6. Brick paver patio off lower levelgreat room and the entire walkway to driveway is made of brick pavers.

Negatives:
1 Detached 2 1/2 car garage(only 15' from house).
2. Only 2 bathroom, but no ensuite- its a walkthru for the MBR.
3. no main floor utility room

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mamaspoon,

I'll have to use my old house, since we don't have the new one yet - and lots of positives since it sold immediately:
Large living areas, great light, completely (and I mean completely) updated, gorgeous kitchen with granite, beautiful landscaping with large deck and patio, great school systems, wonderful neighborhood. For negatives: alot of rooms to clean, taxes were pretty high there

Positives for our home are new windows, lovely pond with wild life out back(no alligators)good size yard, about 10,000 sq. ft. with nice landscaping lights and a vinyl fence with an arbor over the gate, nice floors 3 bedrooms, family room, large front living room, and large lanai. Negatives are the house is small 1480 sq. ft, 2 small baths and nice kitchen flow but a little small by standards wanted by some today. I also have too much stuff.

We just bought our townhouse back in November, and I absolutely LURVE it...

The only way I'd sell it, would be if somebody made me "an offer I couldn't refuse."

Positive = Updated, awesome kitchen and gorgeous hardwoods + HUGE master bedroom

Negative = Ability to hear some "road noise," but as someone else said, it's "white noise" that helps me sleep.

Positives:
Double fenced in lot. We are close to 2/3 acre in an area of 1/4 acre or less lots.
Pool with hot tub
Screened Porch
Large upstairs deck
Location, location, location

Negatives:
Kitchen needs updating
Master bath needs updating
Needs painting, in and out
Needs carpet upstairs
Unconventional floor plan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Charming,

Flboy - I thought that there weren't any bodies of water that didn't have alligators in Florida... . That's what everyone tells me - but then the also say that they are more afraid of me than I am of them - don't think so.....

We did have a small 3 ft. baby but the people in this devolpment went nuts. They said there was never any alligators here and that it had to be removed. The next thing I knew it was gone. I asked some of the homeowners where the alligator laid out in the sun and the answer was, ask us no questions and we will not tell you any lies.There has never been another in the past eight years since he left. I would never believe that old FL. tale that an alligator will only attack if a northerner has fed it. If they are mating or hungry they will want to eat and they run faster then me.

Where I live many homes have what they call blackish water in the back of their home, and they have fences, due to the fact that sometimes aligators do come into their area.
I personally don't care to move to any house that has water nearby, You have water mocassins here and they are quite common, and I know of many pets that have been bitten by them. I hybernate in the summer, because that is when they are more prevalent. we have fences in our back yard, but I am not prone to go walking in my back yard, since I had a great big snake in my patio that had to be killed.
Sorry, but between the snakes, the mosquitoes and the alligator, not too fond of Florida.

I sometimes forget when I am working in the yard that snakes could be around. I do notice that the men in the area wear high boots when working in the yard. I did see a huge black snake once and I didn't leave my screened in lanai for months. The retention pond view is so lovely, it does make me forget what could be in there.

One more thing that is going to make it very hard for us to get a decent price for our home is the banks in our area. They are now selling a home right next to ours for $154,000. The people who walked away paid $334,000. They did NOT have any problem paying the morgage but they knew that they would never get that money back again so, they just walked. The bank in my opinion should do the work needed and get the most money possible and not stick the home owners around this home with a lower price point when they try to sell.Everyone just takes the easy way out without any concern for their neighbors.

Property in Fl is now at the 2004 levels, When we bought our home in 2004 we put updates and increased square footage by about 75-80 dollars. I realize that you never get back what you renovate unless is square footage, but nevertheless, the drop has been horrible. If a Hurricane would destroy this house, I would run and buy in another State.

I don't understand why banks are allowed to carpet bag and the people who are paying for their homes and taking care of their homes are given this kind of a slap in the face. I will never support any bank in Florida now.

My house has two master bathrooms(his and hers ) and his and hers closets so think that would help it sell and kitchen was just remodeled and is only 8 years old .The other thing is sliding glass doors off the master to it's own private deck over looking a wooded area ,no houses behind me .The downside it is in a rural area on 3 acres .But did get an offer and house and it is not up for sale ,but people looking at lots saw my house and figured they would ask any way .They loved the views also from my front covered front porch .