A seller mentioned to me the other day that she did not want any potential buyers for her home to know what she looks like. Not that there's anything wrong with her appearance, mind you. This seller is an attractive and friendly person. But the reason she wants to leave the house long before a buyer arrives for a showing is because she met the sellers when she bought the house. And she didn't like them. Come to think of it, my husband didn't like the sellers of our house, either. Because they were frying bacon in the kitchen when we got there.
We are judgmental human beings. It's in our genes, I suppose. We might not mean to judge other people based on superfluous information, but the fact is we do. Whether we have a valid basis, we constantly size up new people and form first impressions. You may never know the criteria a buyer may use to justify rejecting a property. While I'm not saying this seller should throw on a burqa to go grocery shopping, I understand her point of view.
She's right. Sellers and buyers should not meet each other during the home courtship stage. Let the home do the mating dance and leave the people out of it.
Here is a home in Natomas in which the buyers and sellers will never meet. Not even by accident. So, buyers are free to imagine whether they will use part of the gigantic living room as a dining room or if a dining room is of no use to them because they'd rather eat in the kitchen. People seem to be moving away from hosting formal dinner parties and many no longer utilize a dining room. In fact, some living rooms are useless as well. These rooms often serve the same purpose as the interior courtyards of Pompeii -- attractive parts of the home that one passes through to get to the living area but a part of the home that is never occupied.
This Creekside Village home was built by D. R. Horton in 2002 and boasts 2,668 square feet. The reason a buyer might not use the dining room is because there is a huge eat-in space in the kitchen, which overlooks the back yard and is open to the family room. Most family rooms are where the action is. You're close to your family members, the TV and the refrigerator -- what else do you want? This family room has a fireplace, a built-in media center and is wired for surround sound.
Probably the best selling feature is its 5 bedrooms plus a big bonus room. Families with children may use the bonus room as a play area, but it could serve also as a workout room for a single person. You could put a lot of gym equipment in that space. Or maybe a pool table.
You'll find that highly coveted first-floor bedroom, which has an amazingly big walk-in closet. Plus, 3 full baths, one downstairs and two upstairs. The kitchen features black granite counters, an island, a built-in microwave and dishwasher, plus a free-standing Kenmore gas range. There is a frosted door on the pantry closet. The entire first floor, except for the bath, has beautiful Wilsonart laminate flooring. Great for people with pets or allergies, or for someone like me who dislikes vacuuming.
2921 N Platte Way, Sacramento, CA 95835 is offered exclusively by Lyon Real Estate as a short sale at $250,000. For more information, call your Sacramento short sale agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, at 916 233 6759.
Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
Lyon Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
Sellers often think that they are great salespeople. And if they get introduced to the Byers, they may think this is their greatest opportunity to sell the house.
It may as well be the great opportunity to lose the sale. Buyers are usually critical of Seller's hype, and Seller have their heart invested and they tend to hype...
Not a win-win siutuation here
Elizabeth - So true, we can't stop our basic human nature so that being the case, you are absolutely right, buyers and sellers probably shouldn't meet. I'm sure you're going to get all kinds of stories and comments on the positives about sellers and buyers meeting but btw u&me, it's a bad idea.
On another note, LOVE the red kitchen and dining room. Did the same thing in my kitchen and dining area too.
Yes, I'm judgy and I can't stop myself. I loved the family I bought my land from though when I met them.... but when I was home shopping, not so much, so I built instead. :)
I agree, buyers and sellers meeting and interacting has the potential to invite trouble for the transaction.
Well, Elizabeth this looks and sounds like a terrific home. Few meetings with sellers and buyers in the shopping mode go well. Your seller was a smart cookie to wish to remain anonymous:-) A burga may be taking it a step to far, though:-)
Hi Elizabeth...I think we can be judgmental for sure. As for me, I judge that I like your new photo....;-) At least it's new to me.
It's been my experience lately that sellers and buyers don't trust each other. Or maybe that's because I've been working with too many lawyers. They do start out on opposite ends of the spectrum -- sellers wanting the highest price and buyers wanting the lowest price -- so while it may appear they are at odds, part of my job is to bring them together after the negotiations are finished. Not face-to-face mind you, but at least so they don't hate each other when it closes.
Elizabeth I really like the way this post is constructed. Itis so well written and much more succinct in your points about WHY buyers and sellers should not meet AND you manage also to include a great overview for this new listing! Great job!