My co-worker and good friend of mine is trying to sale his home. The home is nice, has 3-4 bedrooms and 2700 square feet. The location of the home is within the city limits and in a nice neighborhhod. His neighbor (lives across the street) has a pole with a confederate flag in the yard which he feel is shunning possible buyers away. My co-worker has even gone down on the asking price because he noticed the facial expressions when possible buyers from all ethnicities (black, white, mexican etc.) when they look across the street. I told him to try to rent it out because his house is way more then what he is asking for it. But he is eager to sell it for he is having another home built. What do you recommend that he do in a case like this?
2007-02-06 07:49:08 · 6 answers · asked by stergre1975 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Good advise Brianna, but he has already done this. His wife is an interior decorator and the house and the yard looks awesome. They have also done upgrades to the home. His original asking price was $175,000 now it it $155,000 (which is a big cut). He is working with a realtor and the real estate agent told him about the facial expressions on the potential buyers home.
2007-02-06 09:19:40 · update #1
This is a touchy situation. I disagree with others that say, the owner should tell his neighbor to take the flag down . The reason I say that is the potential buyers needs to know what they are buying and what kind of neighborhood they are moving to. I think I would be shock if the flag wasn't there when I was looking at the house and when I moved into the home, the flag goes up. This will make me feel like the flag is directed towards me being an african american moving into the neighborhood. So, I say let the flag remain and he just hope that someone would take interest in his home and buy it regardless of the neighbors beliefs.
2007-02-06 10:29:46 · answer #1 · answered by Who me? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is he working with an agent right now or trying to sell it on his own? Have the agent come up with the full market value of the home. And in the case of looking for a quick sale, he may have to bring the price of the home down a bit.
To increase the sale of his home, he can try the following things:
- First impression means everything to a new home buyer. Don't worry so much about the neighbors, make your home look like a potential home buyer wants to come in. (If a neighbor is a bit messy, he can ask the neighbor to clean up a bit - depending on the relationship with the neighbor)
Make sure grass is cut, lawn and gardens are tidy. Remove all old lawn furniture, and replace the mailbox if needed. Paint the front door. And then polish with Pledge to prevent the dirt from building up on the door.
- Inside make sure the temperature of the home is comfortable, and that there are no smells.
- Remove all clutter in closets, etc.
- If you have a Bedroom that does not have a bed, put one in there. Even if it's a crib borrowed from a neighbor or a blow up mattress propped up on boxes with bedding on top of it. People want to see bedrooms!
- Less is more in a home. Remove all collectables, family photos, religious emblems, etc. You want the house to feel neutral so that anyone who comes in will feel like they could live there.
- Fix anything that needs to be fixed - broken cabinets, door handles, molding, etc.
- Paint rooms neutral if possible
- Leave fresh baked cookies or chocolate covered strawberries with a sign that says take one.
- Don't clutter the furniture. If something is too big for the room, try moving it to another room for now.
The list can go on and on. But these are just a few tips. I hope this helps.
**** An addition to your extra comment:
What if you offered an incentive such as a warranty on the home? Such as covering the appliances and the heating system for a year.
Another thing, since your wife is a decorator, what if you give a gift certificate to go towards new window coverings, furnishings, etc.
2007-02-06 16:10:19 · answer #2 · answered by Brianna C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok...he should ask the neighbor to remove the flag for the time being. After the neighbor responds with )(&^&^&*(^$$*#, then he should go to City Hall and ask if there's an ordinance against hanging a Confederate flag (which has a clear meaning) within city limits. If not, ask council members for one.
It sends a clear message, and your friend should not have to endure a devalluation of his property because of the prejudices from across the street.
2007-02-06 16:00:26 · answer #3 · answered by poutine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is absolutely illegal for a neighbor to do anything to intentionally hamper the sale of anothers property...but to get that done he needs to get a lawyer...and that will take time and $...Alot of southern people think of that flag as nothing more than southern pride, they do not associate it with slavery, or losing the war or in any way intend it to be a slur to anyone...is it possible that this could be the situation?....
My family all live in alabama and while they don't fly a confederate flag I am sure they don't think of it as anything other than kind of a proud to be a redneck kind of a thing...
Has he tried to ask him to take it down?...sometimes we assume the worrst with out even knowing what is on someone elses mind....JMO...
2007-02-06 15:57:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He should speak to the neighbor and see if he won't remove the flag, until the house is sold.
2007-02-06 15:52:41 · answer #5 · answered by Yellow Tail 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He could Ask his neighbour to take his flag down,
2007-02-06 15:54:00 · answer #6 · answered by Lindsay Jane 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋