Just an ordinary day, showing an ordinary house, in an ordinary suburb...with a small natural history exhibit in a dark basement room. No big deal right? WRONG!
When I opened the door to this windowless room it was pitch black. I had to step in a bit to find the light switch and my toe touched something, um...feathered? I couldn't find that light switch fast enough.
The room lit up to expose this vision of dead animals strewn about, their glass eyes staring wide open and giving me "the look." Specifically the "I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!" look. I started to laugh out loud, then the potential homebuyer screamed as she walked in the room. Kinda like this - CLICK HERE.
Then the husband walks in and says "Cool! Do we get to keep these if we buy the house?" (While his wife is trying to figure out how to walk upstairs in her poopy pants.)
The point is that everyone reacts differently to out-of-the-ordinary situations at showings. What one seller thinks is 'normal' is often considered strange, scary, or offensive to others. You can live however you want in your own home, God Bless America for that – but when your house is for sale it will cost you $$$ to be kooky.
ATTENTION – 8 Point Guide to NOT being the 'WEIRD HOUSE' for sale:
1. NO REPTILES. You are not Crocodile Dundee except in your own mind. No matter how many or how few reptiles a buyer sees in cages they will ONLY think about how many have escaped and are slithering through the walls of the house preparing to eat their small children. No Joke, NO REPTILES!
2. NO RODENTS. See the above explanation. Enough said.
3. NO GUNS. Not on display anyway...into the gun safe they go please. What can frighten and offend buyers can also be a security issue for sellers.
4. NO THEMES. If it was your dream to come home from work every day to a Jungle Paradise, a Wild West Outpost, or Southwest Adobe House, that’s fine. Keep your dream but get rid of your travel trinkets while your home is for sale.
5. NO SHRINES. This includes incense altars with Buddha statues, Urns containing the ashes of your dearly departed people or pets, athletic shrines to your resident all-star with all their trophies and ribbons, or photo shrines of every vacation you have ever taken. If it a collection of anything you are crazy about it's just too crazy for showing your home. SEE EXHIBIT B.
When I opened the door to this windowless room it was pitch black. I had to step in a bit to find the light switch and my toe touched something, um...feathered? I couldn't find that light switch fast enough.
The room lit up to expose this vision of dead animals strewn about, their glass eyes staring wide open and giving me "the look." Specifically the "I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!" look. I started to laugh out loud, then the potential homebuyer screamed as she walked in the room. Kinda like this - CLICK HERE.
Then the husband walks in and says "Cool! Do we get to keep these if we buy the house?" (While his wife is trying to figure out how to walk upstairs in her poopy pants.)
The point is that everyone reacts differently to out-of-the-ordinary situations at showings. What one seller thinks is 'normal' is often considered strange, scary, or offensive to others. You can live however you want in your own home, God Bless America for that – but when your house is for sale it will cost you $$$ to be kooky.
ATTENTION – 8 Point Guide to NOT being the 'WEIRD HOUSE' for sale:
1. NO REPTILES. You are not Crocodile Dundee except in your own mind. No matter how many or how few reptiles a buyer sees in cages they will ONLY think about how many have escaped and are slithering through the walls of the house preparing to eat their small children. No Joke, NO REPTILES!
2. NO RODENTS. See the above explanation. Enough said.
3. NO GUNS. Not on display anyway...into the gun safe they go please. What can frighten and offend buyers can also be a security issue for sellers.
4. NO THEMES. If it was your dream to come home from work every day to a Jungle Paradise, a Wild West Outpost, or Southwest Adobe House, that’s fine. Keep your dream but get rid of your travel trinkets while your home is for sale.
5. NO SHRINES. This includes incense altars with Buddha statues, Urns containing the ashes of your dearly departed people or pets, athletic shrines to your resident all-star with all their trophies and ribbons, or photo shrines of every vacation you have ever taken. If it a collection of anything you are crazy about it's just too crazy for showing your home. SEE EXHIBIT B.
6. NO WONKALAND. These are houses that are so "Kid-Tastic" you have to have a golden ticket to get inside! C'mon, kid stuff is cute we all know it. But slides in the family room, ceilings painted with Disney Princesses, and craft glitter covering carpet and furniture is a bit too much. No one wants to buy the Ooompa -Looompa house.
7. NO SEX WORLD. There is nothing to describe the look on a buyers face when their five year old points to a sex toy left out during a showing asks "What's THAT for?" This goes for panties in girl's rooms, naked lady posters in teen boy bedrooms, dirty magazine collections on the coffee table, and the fuzzy handcuffs in the bathroom vanity. Seriously folks, I can't make this stuff up!
8. NO STUFFED ANIMALS. This brings me back to my initial inspiration for this list and includes all taxidermy. The most endangered and cutest animals are not exceptions either. Don't ask if the Zebra and Panther can stay on the wall because they are so special. NO!!!! If you are selling a lake home or a hunting cabin then we are cool. That trophy walleye might just bring up your value - this IS Minnesota after all!
7. NO SEX WORLD. There is nothing to describe the look on a buyers face when their five year old points to a sex toy left out during a showing asks "What's THAT for?" This goes for panties in girl's rooms, naked lady posters in teen boy bedrooms, dirty magazine collections on the coffee table, and the fuzzy handcuffs in the bathroom vanity. Seriously folks, I can't make this stuff up!
8. NO STUFFED ANIMALS. This brings me back to my initial inspiration for this list and includes all taxidermy. The most endangered and cutest animals are not exceptions either. Don't ask if the Zebra and Panther can stay on the wall because they are so special. NO!!!! If you are selling a lake home or a hunting cabin then we are cool. That trophy walleye might just bring up your value - this IS Minnesota after all!