The Very Sad House

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Seller,

I am sorry your marriage didn’t make it. Really, it makes me quite sad. I felt your loss when I walked through your beautiful house last night, in spite of gracious hostessing by your Realtor. Her broker open was well attended. The shrimp were delicious, by the way. But your house no longer feels like a home. I know you know. Your house feels sad.

I don’t know the specifics of your separation, but I imagine that you are both very interested in having the home that your family once shared sell for the highest possible price. For the most part, people don’t feel happy when they enter sad houses. Most people like the home buying experience to be something happy. With a sad house you are likely to attract bargain hunters who may see that they have a negotiating advantage because they think you need to unload the house before you can move on with your life. Many buyers will just move on to a happier house, lengthening the time you have to spend in this house you don’t want.

Here are some of the signs that lead me to know you are getting divorced:

• The exercise equipment in the former master bedroom, where I am sure there was once a lovely armoire or chair. The romance might have left a long time ago, but you don’t want a prospective buyer to know that.
• A completely empty closet in the master suite. The “his” closet was full. The “hers” closet was not in use.
• Those kids’ rooms must have been very sweet when they were furnished.
• The holiday decorations, left in boxes in a a bedroom with nothing else in it. Did the movers forget to take them, or doesn’t anyone want them now?
• Those tell-tale dimples in the carpet, where furniture once stood.

You have about three million reasons (the price of your home) to make a few changes before you let another agent or prospective buyer cross your threshold. If I were your agent, I would suggest you call a stager today. Move some furniture around to fill the glaring gaps. Rent some if you have to. As painful as it may be, hang some women’s clothing in those empty closets. Or even out the distribution of clothes, unstead of leaving half the closet empty. And put some stuff back in the kids’ rooms. It might be hard, but you need to do it.

I can only imagine the emotional pain of divorce. I would like to ease the financial pain and the prolonged agony of having the home unsold. I hope you don’t mind my advice.

Sincerely,

Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty
Birmingham Michigan

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Written by Maureen Francis
SKBK Sotheby's International Realty, 248.430.4450
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