Comments on: Good Deal or Not? Owner Request

By: gk

gk — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:07:27 +0000

just j – agree with many of your points about staging. but just wanted to point out that part of the reason this house “hasn’t sold” is that it’s been on the market for four whole days.

By: NAB

NAB — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:17:15 +0000

Several families I know with houses like this use that space off the kitchen as a dining area and the “formal dining room” as a living room. Tastes have changed, since the cooks are usually the end consumers now, not servants, a formal dining room makes less sense.

By: Barbapapa

Barbapapa — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:53:49 +0000

Gorgeous house. Well decorated. Love the color scheme! It’s nice to see something other than boring neutral tones on every wall.

By: Eli

Eli — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:55:13 +0000

I agree that the “family room” should be restaged as something else. A breakfast nook would be much more appealing than the hodgepodge that’s there now.

By: Petworthian

Petworthian — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:06:03 +0000

This house is fantastic except for the breakfast nook which seems to be masquerading as a family room. I love it, love it, love it!

By: wotv

wotv — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:50:36 +0000

Only in DC where you buy a house for 3/4 a million and still have to have bars on the window. It’s really depressing to me. I don’t care how nice the house is. If I am paying that much money, I don’t want to live behind bars. What’s wrong with DC???????

By: Just J

Just J — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:24:39 +0000

First of all, I think your house is georgous. Secondly, I think your price is about right for that area. When I was looking through the pictures I was trying to find a major flaw that would keep most people from buying this house. It took me a while but I think I spotted it.

When I looked at your baby’s room my first thought was “ok I would use this as an office since I dont have a baby” then I saw your office and thought, “ok this is an even better office.” It may sound simple, but I think your house hasnt sold because buyers are seeing one master bedroom and two offices, not 3 bedrooms. You would be shocked at how uncreative people can be when they look at real estate. My Mom (agent) actually showed two condos to a couple with an identical floorplan. One had new appliances was freshly painted and had carpet, the other did not. Buyers bought the prettier one for $30K more!

My point is you need to literally create 2 bedrroms and an office (I dont think you can make your office seem like a real bedroom without spending a lot of money). So, if I were you I would remove all baby items from the babys room and dress it up to look like a neutral bedroom that could work for anyone from 13 to 85. I would even put a small bed in there. On days you are showing the house, I would literally move the crib into the master bedroom so buyers dont even consider the possibility that the room is a baby’s room.

I know it sounds like an inconvenience, but if you do it the house will sell in no time.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:24:36 +0000

The kitchen is far too dark for a room without windows. Also that third bedroom can’t possibly meet code. However, those interior shutters and fireplaces are gorgeous, too bad all the other wood needs to be stripped…I’d say 699k, but that’s because I’d have to redo the kitchen. Also I think to go over 700k, it needs a basement, garage or third story.

By: victoria

victoria — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:29:19 +0000

I just love having liquor and toys on the same shelves!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:42:31 +0000

I think the upstairs layout may be key to whether or not is is worth it. It looks like the “family room” part of the kitchen was added where there used to be a cut-in in the house. If so, the window in the second bedroom looks out onto the family room and gets no natural light. That would be an issue for me. Otherwise, it is very charming and I will probably go to the open house.