Ask Phyllis: a blog series of frequently asked real estate questions.
Realtor Recommendations
Dear Phyllis,
My Realtor has retired, and she referred her clients to her son. As a result, I met with him to discuss listing my home, as I plan to move to Arizona to be near my sister. I have lived in my home for more than thirty years and believe it has been very well maintained. However, he criticized nearly every aspect of it. For example, he pointed out that some of my bathroom fixtures do not match. I had never even noticed that I have a wood towel bar along with brass and silver accessories. According to him, they should all coordinate.
In addition, he suggested that I hire his gardener and house painter. Consequently, I began to wonder whether this is a scam. After all, I keep hearing that homes are selling almost as soon as the sign goes up. Therefore, all of these suggested improvements seem very unnecessary to me.
Christina
Dear Christina,
Thank you for your question. You might take it as a compliment that he thought your home merited sprucing up. I have been in homes that were so awful, the only thing worth doing was a deep cleaning. Having not seen your home, it’s difficult for me to chime in. The fact that this Realtor made recommendations indicates that he is trying to sell your home for the highest price possible. If he were simply looking for a quick and easy sale, he would not make any suggestions.
I believe consistent bathroom fixtures add to the aesthetic of the home and can be an inexpensive way to add value. It is a very easy fix for a handyman. Twenty years ago, a real estate broker I worked for was adamant that we Realtors never make recommendations. If a client wanted a recommendation, she told us to tell them to check the phone book. Having reliable contacts that we can refer our clients to is a valuable service and trustworthy resource.
If your gardener hasn’t been properly maintaining your landscape, you should hire another. Curb appeal is very important when selling. It doesn’t involve anyone in your home. And it’s one of the simplest ways to increase property value. A good rule of thumb is that if you invest a dollar, it should net you three. Ask yourself if you want to sell for the highest possible price, which requires a bit more effort on both the seller’s and the Realtor’s end.
Best of luck on your move!
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