Not All Bunnies Are Cute!
Now I hope this handsome fellow to the right does not take offense, but not all 
bunnies are cute. Most bunnies of the four legged type are quite adorable, while a few are on the scary side, but the bunnies that I want to discuss are of the dusty variety--dust bunnies.
One would think that it is common sense to "put your best foot forward" when you are trying to sell your house, and I am very understanding of the busy lifestyles that we all lead which don't necessarily allow for daily scrub-downs of our homes. However, this past weekend I showed 12 homes to two different clients, and most stood out as having "pride of ownership." I set up the appointments two and three days in advance, so everyone knew we were coming.
Two or three of these homes were not looking their best. Dust bunnies running about were really the least of their worries. My buyers--whom I have trained to look past the family photos, accept that the furniture doesn't stay (it will be your furniture occupying the rooms), and understand that not everyone uses a dining room for eating--could not look past the dirt and grime. Those houses were completely ruled out in minutes.
So I implore you, if you want to sell your house in this market, please try to help it put its best foot forward and look its best by getting out the vacuum and tidying up the bathrooms and kitchens. Buyers know that they are not buying your mess, but they don't really want to see it either.
Chris K. Canfield
REALTOR®, ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GREEN, MRP, SRES
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
2890 E. Skyline Drive, #250
Tucson, Arizona 85718
I'll take a nasty dirty listing...as long as the clients are willing to knock 30% off the price....(They never are, so we get a crew in there)
Gary De Pury, SFR
You're right of course, it doesen't help sell your house, and if you do get buyers the chances are they discount for dirt. So you will get less money for the home.
sometimes, you'll never know if the sellers are serious with selling their homes. there are just some sellers who are stubborn. its a shame that your buyers encountered sellers like these...
still, I wish you all the best in helping your clients find the best home for them!
I’m always amazed about the way some people live. I can understand old furniture, cheap furniture, no furniture, but I don’t understand filth and grime.
Hi Gary - With buyers more than willing to ask for big discounts for "problems," sellers really should not go looking to give them reasons!
Amen! Lets just hope they keep their dust rhino's to themselves too!
Hi Chris~ Some sellers just don't get it! They need to show their house in the best light possible! Buyers do NOT want to see their dirt and grime and if they do, they probably won't buy unless it's a steal!
Chris, I got quite a chuckle out of your post, but this is so true! When you have a home active on the market, it should be cleaner than the normal everyday clean! GREAT POST!
I agree... it is one thing when your home isn't on the market, but if it is and you KNOW someone is coming over to see it!!! I just don't understand some people!
Chris, nice post and reminder for our clients!
It's amazing how much money people lose by skipping the rather inexpensive practice of cleaning up.
When I make my listing presentations;after I have gone over what the seller can expect of me in my marketing efforts; the last thing that I cover is what I expect of them as sellers - the 3-C's of real estate. The 3-C's of real estate for sellers are Condition, Clutter and Cleanliness. Condition has to do with things that might need repair or attention and covers categorieslike painting, minor repairs and attention to landscaping. The "C" for clutter is very self-explanatory but most often the biggest need to get the place ready. Finally, there is Cleanliness, which is were dust bunny control comes into play. You would think that you wouldn't have to mention this to sellers, but I often have to make the offer to get a cleaning crew in to help them get caught up with delayed cleaning (or at least that's the least offensive way that a I could think of to tell them that they are basically slobs with a dirty house).
Usually sellers will understand the three C's pitch and start doing something about any issues right away. Later, if I need to, I can revisit the three C's and perhaps compliment them on making headway on one or two and cajole them about the undone items.
Chuck you are so right . People have to learn to clean to the point they are cleaning when they wake and before they head out the door. They will feel good about it when they come home too
Chris, you are absolutely right. Buyers just don't want to purchase a home that doesn't present itself well.
It's crazy how some lazy some sellers are and it costs them THOUSANDS! I had a client who put dirty dishes in the cabinets instead of cleaning them.
Chris, I couldn't agree more .. it's amazing how even when you point out what areas need further cleaning - some sellers just don't see the dirt. I've often heard comments like "well, it looks better than it did" - not good enough.
I think I have a few dust bunnies that have been around so long, I've named them! But they would be gone in an instant if my house was on the market. Now, the bunnies in my back yard are another story. How I wish I could get rid of the wild rabbits that eat my plants!
Point well taken Chris. The buyers don't want to see the sellers' mess.
Chris - As much as you train buyers to look past the colors, pictures, and furnishings, it's hard to look past the dirt. If the sellers are not maintaining cleanliness in the house, what else are they NOT maintaining?
Indeed a clean house will sell faster and for more money than the same house that's dirty...
It's like anything else. Always put your best foot forward. Barbara was dead-on. If this is how they treat the stuff that can be seen, how has the HVAC, plumbing, etc. been maintained? Great post.
Great post Chris, a little effort can go along way and can potentially equate to a few thousand dollars !!
Cory Barbee, Team Leader
Keller Williams North County San Diego
San Diego Career in Real Estate
Chris I absolutely agree, when selling your home it shouldbe in tip top shape at all times. You never know when that buyer could walk through the door. And you don't want them to be attached by one of those dust rhinos.....lol
Hi All, Thanks so much for your great comments!! I went off to meetings all morning to come back and find my inbox full of comments--I guess I was featured!
Barbara was so right about the lack of cleanliness giving the buyers the impression that other things have also been neglected! Some of the best staging tip are free--just time consuming!
Norm - None of these dirty homes were my own listings. I explain to my sellers the importance of cleanliness, and they get it. : )
Chris, I had something similar like this happen when I was with a buyer but the dust stuck to our shoes! Great house but the dust disqualified them as they feared the home wasn't maintained and didn't want surprises.
I'm with you Chris! I had buyers out recently who just sold their house. THeir house was immaculate and sold very quickly for us. They could not believe how DIRTY some of the houses we went to were.
Chris,
When folks ask me if I have any pets, I say Dust Bunnies, so your post is near and dear to my heart. But my home isn't on the market...
Hi Barb - Dust stuck to your shoes? Not just tumbling by? Not good.
Hi Erica - Sometimes it is embarrassing to take people who you know are immaculate into some homes!
Hi Irene - There is a big difference between living in your house and selling your house. I wish more people understood this!
Hello Chris and a great post and a cute bunny!
Chris - Some sellers just don't get it. I did an open house for another agent once and the house was very messy and dirty. Then the seller had the nerve to say he gave his home away when I sold it.
Hi Bob--Thanks!
Hi Rosalinda - Think how much he could have saved by hiring a cleaning person to come in once a week!
Hi Chris,
All bunnies are cute when they are not in your house. Dust bunnies and the 4-legged ones both make terrible pets!
Lisa
Shhhhhh. One of my kids' friends has a bunny for a pet; I don't want her to read this. : ) Neither is good for people with allergies!
Couldn't have said it better myself Chris. Doesn't it make you wonder if these people REALLY want to sell? If they did, why not try harder to put out the best product possible. It just doesn't make sense
Hi Karen - Properties that are very dirty often make me wonder if perhaps one of the party does not want to sell . . . Some of the properties I have shown have had MUCH worse than just dust bunnies.