What would turn you off in a house for sale ?

[TagsMissy]

This is definitely not what I was expecting by reading the the past explanations from the OP about this old heritage home with many rooms. I was expecting a lovely heritage home but this looks like it's had so many updates ((decades ago)) etc that any character it once had have been very sadly lost along with the curb appeal. This looks like a fixer-uper. I do think with some TLC, sanding and restaining the floor, clean fresh paint on the walls.... returning the house to the original character then the house will have more appeal.

When I hear 14 room house this isn't what I envision... one's interpretation can vary. LOL

 

[Granny square]

No, I thought maybe there were more photos of the house.

Oh good!!! My boys talk about creepers so I wondered.

 

[Janepod]

This is what I think of when I think of a "well maintained" house from the 1700s. This one is near me and is even more beautiful in person.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/96-Old-Mill-Rd_Wilton_CT_06897_M35203-55489

 

[IheartMickey]

I'm going to assume you live in Newbury, NH since that's that name of your album. This one is for sale there and although not ideal it seems to be in much better condition for the money.

$199,900 | 3 Bed 3 Bath
http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?mprid=4029252901

 

[twinboysmom]

This is what I think of when I think of a "well maintained" house from the 1700s. This one is near me and is even more beautiful in person.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/96-Old-Mill-Rd_Wilton_CT_06897_M35203-55489

It's a beautiful home but not really a fair comparison. It's listing price is almost 5x what the OP intends to list her home for.

 

[Janepod]

It's a beautiful home but not really a fair comparison. It's listing price is almost 5x what the OP intends to list her home for.

That's not my point. OP thinks that the age of the home and its older features will be a selling point. My take is, those things are only a selling point if they are done with care. To me, OPs house has no 18th century qualities or charm and could just as easily have been built in 1960. If you want to market a home as being 240 years old, it should have some obvious plus signs - old plank flooring, architectural details, brick/stonework, etc. Other than the exposed timbers I'm not seeing anything like that. It's unfortunate; perhaps those qualities were once there and were renovated out?

 

[NYEmomma]

DH & I absolutely love older, outdated homes. Seeing an old house with an updated bathroom and all that lovely, vintage subway tile missing makes us sad. We're not afraid of updating a house just so long as it doesn't require a complete redo of the electric of plumbing. Putting in new kitchen cabinets, refinishing floors, etc. is fine with us.

My turn-offs in a house:
- yucky smell (or a smell of air fresheners... I'd be afraid it was hiding something)
- signs of a wet basement or mold (common problem in this area and I am TIRED of dropping thousands of dollars to waterproof a basement)
- furniture where it shouldn't be (i.e. in front of a door, blocking a throughway)... would make me think that the room isn't going to fit our furniture properly
- big doozies that need replaced like the roof, windows, furnace. It wouldn't totally turn us off but if it were between a house needing a new roof & one that didn't, we'd go with the one that didn't.

Looking at pictures, I'd focus on decluttering and modernizing what you keep, if possible. I personally think it's silly but I know a lot of people can't visualize their own belongings in a home and might get turned off by the style of your furnishings. Other big thing for me would be to work on curb appeal. Having a some so close to the street would be a deal breaker for me since I have young kids and in general I think a tiny front yard is a negative so I'd take what you have and make it look as nice as possible.

 

[Hrhpd]

It's a beautiful home but not really a fair comparison. It's listing price is almost 5x what the OP intends to list her home for.

I thought the OP said her house was just under $200,000. That would be comparable to the one in the link.

If the house in the link was 5x the OP's house, that would mean the OP was listing her house for $40,000. Did I miss something.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

when we were looking for houses I was always able to overlook cosmetics because I know my whole family is handy, always was looking more towards structure, age of windows, age of roof, hot water heater, furnace, if there is central air. I'd rather buy a house that I can live in and update as time goes on and I get money then a house that everything needs to be replaced within a few months of moving in.
O and odors...odors no bueno. Just declutter and keep everything neat, clean, and smelling fresh.

 

[twinboysmom]

I thought the OP said her house was just under $200,000. That would be comparable to the one in the link.

If the house in the link was 5x the OP's house, that would mean the OP was listing her house for $40,000. Did I miss something.

The house in the link is listed for $959,000. The other link provided is a $200,000 house which some poster assumes is in the same area. We have no idea if it's in the same area as the OPs home. It's also not a historical home and IMO, is just plain ugly but that's another thread.

 

[topolino]

I thought the OP said her house was just under $200,000. That would be comparable to the one in the link.

If the house in the link was 5x the OP's house, that would mean the OP was listing her house for $40,000. Did I miss something.

Yes, you missed that Twinboysmom was referring to the house that Janepod posted, not the one Iheartmickey posted.

 

[tigercat]

First off I would get rid of the pictures that are almost on the ceiling. Was there a reason they were put up so high? Declutter, declutter, declutter.
Things that turned me off when we were helping our son look for a house:
Poop all over the place, horrible smells especially cigarettes. Dirty diaper in the middle of the kitchen floor that also had garbage over it. A large pair of men's underwear streak smeared pinned to the bathroom wall that you saw as soon as you walked up the stairs, yes this really happened. So much stuff around that you can't walk into some of the rooms, so you really have no idea how big it is or what it looks like.
tigercat

 

[Hrhpd]

Yes, you missed that Twinboysmom was referring to the house that Janepod posted, not the one Iheartmickey posted.

Thanks!!! I knew I missed something.

I was going to say that if the OP was listing for $40,000, she could fill it with clutter and it would sell

 

[Deb & Bill]

On your photos of your house, you might want to include photos of the major rooms in the house such as the master bedroom, living room, kitchen. Maybe a photo of the yard since you say you have almost an acre.

Can you park a car in the garage? I want to see a garage that I can park my car in.

 

[JessB320]

I thought the OP said her house was just under $200,000. That would be comparable to the one in the link.

If the house in the link was 5x the OP's house, that would mean the OP was listing her house for $40,000. Did I miss something.

Oops double post

 

[MotifNumberOne]

This is definitely not what I was expecting by reading the the past explanations from the OP about this old heritage home with many rooms. I was expecting a lovely heritage home but this looks like it's had so many updates ((decades ago)) etc that any character it once had have been very sadly lost along with the curb appeal. This looks like a fixer-uper. I do think with some TLC, sanding and restaining the floor, clean fresh paint on the walls.... returning the house to the original character then the house will have more appeal.

When I hear 14 room house this isn't what I envision... one's interpretation can vary. LOL

Agreed - My fiance and I are actually in the process of purchasing a home that was built in 1671, and it has been largely unchanged since its original construction. When we were looking for a house, we really wanted character - and just "being old" doesn't match the kind of character that type of buyer is looking for.

I'd really recommend exposing the hardwood floors, and painting the interior a neutral color that is historically accurate. Re-doing a bathroom doesn't have to be very expensive, and it can be a great selling point. There are two excellent architectural salvages in New Hampshire that I frequent, their prices are very reasonable and the people who work there are very very friendly. If you were my real life friend, I would recommend going and talking to them about improvements you can make (on a budget) to highlight your homes character.

http://www.oldhouseonline.com/categ.../architectural-element/architectural-salvage/

http://www.noreast1.com

 

[pyrxtc]

I guess its a totally different world in the Northeast. Many people look for old houses here.

yes, lots of old houses here.

That's what I was thinking too.....if allowed, I'm guessing most people would buy your house for the lot only - demolish the house and rebuild - especially if it's in a desirable location. But if there are rules for historic homes, a new owner would be limited in what they could do. It would definitely be a gut and redo though.....

I would also agree that those pictures should come down.....

Even if they were to demolish, they could only rebuild within the exact footprint of the house because of lot size. But, because it is so old, it is grandfathered in and you can remodel anything inside without permits. Pictures are mine, not realtors.

This house has 14 rooms? ! You'd never know that from looking at it from the outside!

Check the diagram. Everyone is surprised at how big the house is once you get inside. it just goes on forever.

I'm not familiar with the backstory and didn't even bother looking at the old thread, but it's unfortunate that the bottom has dropped out of the price of this house.....to go from expecting $260,000 to less than $200,000 is rough. I'm not sure what the circumstances are, but I don't think I'd be moving if I didn't have to. That's quite a hit on the price.....

When I wanted to sell originally, we just wanted to move. Now we just want the house gone since we are moving no matter what. It actually assessed to about $240k but we just want it to sell quicker.

I dunno...can you tear down a 240 yo historical building? If you can, would the townspeople hate you for tearing down something that old?

Our first house was on the historical register and that limited what we could do and how it was done. It was a cute little brick house with tons of work inside. We did refinish the floors and some other things but it was nothing but work, all the time. Plus, 25 years later, that house would not have supported all our electronics of today--it'd have probably blown up from all the chargers we have!

Not on the registry but could be. I have been told that it wouldn't affect what could be done to it though.

I'm really sorry to get off topic but I looked at your other albums and wow you must really like sewing. You have over 50 pictures of the same dress.

I just started sewing last year. That one dress just frustrated me greatly and I took a bunch of similar pictures to pick the best ones to put in my review. I think it's fine that you looked at my other stuff.

This is the backyard. Note that the dirt pile is not there and not see from this shot is either of the gardens.

Front entry

I'm going to assume you live in Newbury, NH since that's that name of your album. This one is for sale there and although not ideal it seems to be in much better condition for the money.

$199,900 | 3 Bed 3 Bath
http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?mprid=4029252901

yes I am there. I know this house, my friend lived there. It is very 80's and generic. The people looking at that house would not like my house.

DH & I absolutely love older, outdated homes. Seeing an old house with an updated bathroom and all that lovely, vintage subway tile missing makes us sad. We're not afraid of updating a house just so long as it doesn't require a complete redo of the electric of plumbing. Putting in new kitchen cabinets, refinishing floors, etc. is fine with us.

My turn-offs in a house:
- yucky smell (or a smell of air fresheners... I'd be afraid it was hiding something)
- signs of a wet basement or mold (common problem in this area and I am TIRED of dropping thousands of dollars to waterproof a basement)
- furniture where it shouldn't be (i.e. in front of a door, blocking a throughway)... would make me think that the room isn't going to fit our furniture properly
- big doozies that need replaced like the roof, windows, furnace. It wouldn't totally turn us off but if it were between a house needing a new roof & one that didn't, we'd go with the one that didn't.

Looking at pictures, I'd focus on decluttering and modernizing what you keep, if possible. I personally think it's silly but I know a lot of people can't visualize their own belongings in a home and might get turned off by the style of your furnishings. Other big thing for me would be to work on curb appeal. Having a some so close to the street would be a deal breaker for me since I have young kids and in general I think a tiny front yard is a negative so I'd take what you have and make it look as nice as possible.

We have a large backyard with almost full view from the kitchen door on the side of the house where the kids play and a dead street back there where all the bike riding happens and sports are played. All of the homes here have little front yards or woods in front.

I thought the OP said her house was just under $200,000. That would be comparable to the one in the link.

If the house in the link was 5x the OP's house, that would mean the OP was listing her house for $40,000. Did I miss something.

They were talking about the first listing they posted.

I don't' know where the post went that asked about going through the bathroom, but yes you go through the master bath to get to the master bedroom. It was an in-law suite and that's how it was set up. What I call "the linen room" was a kitchen and all the plumbing is till there so it could be set up as the bath and you could easily change the door set up since the plumbing is there. you would have to move the toilet though. The kids bathroom is upstairs with their bedrooms.

Master suite is on the first floor.

Basement is a dug basement. It is going to be moist at some points. It keeps the house nice and cool in the summer.

 

[Bonnie40]

I didn't mean the pictures of your house....I meant the pictures you have on the wall....

 

[okeydokey]

Tiny rooms are useless. Looks like of yours is like 5 x 9. That would be a walk in closet, not a bedroom. Maybe you can showcase it as such.

Turn offs would be musty smells and too much stuff in the house.

 

[phorsenuf]

What's the finished square footage?