Recently I was attempting to lug a washer and dryer back into a house I’ve got coming on the market. They had been removed to install new flooring and I tried to get them back in the house on my own. Because there is a step that leads outside and a narrow doorway to go through, I tried and failed with a dolly several times before deciding to wait until I could get some help. Otherwise, I would either get the appliances back into the house, or throw out my back and/or shoulder.
Because new flooring was going into the bathroom, I also had to remove a toilet. I had a feeling the toilet would be too heavy, and it was. So, I had a friend help me get it out. Otherwise, it would have been my back or shoulder again. Heavy lifting isn’t the only hazard of real estate sales, but it’s one of the most dangerous. One of the reasons I hire professional stagers: I’ve got a body built for paper pushing.
I’ve got another house I’m preparing for the market that has a massive liquid amber tree in the front yard. It had a deceptively low hanging branch with the leaves covering the heavy limb. Judging from the marks it’s left on my head it’s about five feet, seven inches off the ground. I can’t count the times I bonked my forehead on it in the past month! One Saturday I was helping with a yard sale and my head struck the limb at least three times. My painter also had marks on his head from striking the limb several times while he was working on the house. Finally, I had enough and took a handsaw to it. The last thing we needed when we went on the market was a prospective buyer bonking their head on it. Welcome to you new home!
We often go to great lengths to sell homes. I will always remember a condo I sold in Terra Linda. An appraiser called out the potential mold in the bathroom which looked like typical mildew residue. The appraisal happened late in the game and I was representing the buyer. The seller wasn’t going to send a cleaner out and I didn’t have time to hire one so I figured I’d take some bleach to it and call it good. Unfortunately, the bathroom had no fan or windows. I nearly passed out from the bleach fumes, and found myself drawing on my surfing experience ducking under waves. After the initial bout of light headedness, I held my breath up to a minute each time I went back into the bathroom to scrub. What lengths won’t we go to in order to sell a home?
Mold of course can be very dangerous. I’ve gotten to the point in my real estate career where I’ve opened several doors for buyers, took one whiff of the air inside and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t go in.” I’ve literally waited outside while buyers walked themselves through moldy homes. Other times, they’ve also decided not to go inside. I’ve sold more than one home where I’ve had to have buyers sign a hold harmless agreement before entering because of mold and other hazards. You just can’t take any chances with other people’s health.
There are of course some buyers who are looking for hazardous homes. Flippers LOVE moldy homes! The more the better. When you price a hazardous home right, it’s going to go and likely with multiple offers because there are so many contractors out there looking for their next project. However, if you are looking to get the most money for your home, you’ll want to eliminate the hazards. Including low hanging branches.