I feel a little sorry for our real estate agents. I've been a little pedantic about their word choices for listing our property. Initially, they wrote 'rustic' and 'self sufficient', which I believe have particular connotations that would exclude people coming to check it out.
To me, 'rustic' means 'unfinished' - as if all care hasn't been taken. It sounds like work needs to be done. And 'self sufficient' it isn't - I don't grow wheat and barely last the winter with veggies, let alone a meat source. Besides, that sounds like hard work, doesn't it? A potential buyer might love the veggie patch, fruit trees and chickens, but would they really go for a self sufficient property? Sure, there might be some, but most are just treechangers or people who want some land and can't afford the coast.
Their initial blurb also missed a lot out for me - the gazebo, the bus, the shedding, the NBN and solar, the fact it was north facing. I mean you're not going to sell the place because broccoli and chickens, right?
So we flung a few words around - 'serene', 'soulful', 'lifestyle' and 'sustainable' I approved. I did not like one sentence that ended with a preposition - I didn't tell her that, because that felt overly teacherly, but it jarred, so I offered an alternative.
Though a lot sounds like real estate superlatives, to be honest, it's how we feel about the property - all the hard work is done, the vistas from each room are beautiful, the house is modern and natural, and the gardens are incredible. We will miss it awfully and sincerely hope that someone loves it as much as we do.
I'm also going to put a list of birds on the property and the fruit trees as pdfs on the desk for people to look at. I'm not sure that's a done thing but it's an important part of the property, in our opinion. We've planted for birds too, so it's important.
The fruit trees - ah I will miss the fruit trees. The lemons and limes are looking spectacular at the moment and people nearly die when they see them. What's your secret, they say? Attention, fertiliser, watering and protection from the cold - easy. I will miss my lemons and limes!
They came and took all the photos yesterday. My house has never looked so good. I actually was completely unminimal and went to Kmart for a few things to make the place look a little more 'neutral' - I'd read people need to imagine themselve in the space so I want to tone down the colour a little. I swapped a red bowl for a natural looking ceramic for the limes (I needed a new bowl anyway), some neutral towels and bathmat for the bathroom, a linen look queen sized doona cover and a plain one for the spare room - they weren't expensive, but they did make the place look more ready for market. When the real estate agent came in she couldn't believe how good it looked - and joked if I wanted a job as a stylist.
I'd also googled about scents, and put some orange essential oil in a burner and bought a lovely mandarin and lemon myrtle room spray - subtle, but fresh.
I've actually had a lot of fun doing it, and wish I'd done a few things a long time ago, such as the slim line bucket in the laundry which is far more subtle than the bulky blue bucket and green handled mop I had.
It's also been good putting away all the tat that made it look cluttered. I mean my place isn't that cluttered as I like the feeling of space, but I really decluttered this time, removing small prints on the bookshelves, little personal knick knacks, and so on.
We redid the timber bench top too and it looks awesome. I'm too scared to use it in case I stain it again before it sells. It's a real feature of the house so I won't be putting anything on it so they immediately notice it's beauty. It's recycled oregon pine - or douglas fir - so yes, I suppose I concede it fits the 'rustic' look, a look I'd much prefer was called 'natural'.
Honestly, I think all the little things will add up to the bigger picture to sell my 'soulful sanctuary'.
What do you think?
Have you sold a house before?
With Love,
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Oh dear, that sounds exactly like me a couple of months ago!
I honestly believe the seller knows their property's strong points and agents need to take cognisance of that.
What...rustic! and "self-sufficient"!
Some English lessons, please Miss Riverflows! Sustainable way better. It sounds so lovely. I'm sure after you did your staging you must have felt like stopping the sale, but no, you need to be closer to the ocean!
That stunning counter top for sure is very sleek and contemporary, not rustic at all! Your property sounds gorgeous.
I had to do my own staging twice, first for the agent but I still wasn't happy with the photos. A friend's brother is a real estate photographer in another city, but came down for his daughter's wedding and offered his services free of charge. What a difference!
We got another agent onboard, added new photos online, and suddenly we had people coming to view and my house was sold three days after she joined!
My house should be registered in the new owner's name very soon.
Good luck with your sale River, and with the move to the new home. So exciting 🙌
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Thank you so much @friendlymoose and @topcomment!
It's amazing how bad some of the agent photographers are! And how they miss the mark. This one did okay I think so we are happy. I'm glad you sold relatively quickly... What a difference marketing can make!
I did freak out when I got home to see the big for sale board out front...mit's huge and shows my lounge room. Freaky!
Yes I was not impressed! I refused the For Sale sign, mainly because of the BnB. I can imagine seeing that out front!
Look at you making me wish I could move to Australia :))) Best of luck, though honestly, I doubt you'll have much trouble selling such a gorgeous place. If anything, I'd get sticks ready to start beating off offers. What a fantastic soulful beauty.
I'm super hoping for a few people in a bidding war, but the market's a little slow right now and this is priced high. There's one down the road for 200,000 less with shedding, so horsey people with no taste in houses (it's a freaking wierd design) might go for that instead (we also have no fencing). But if they were actually cool people with money then for sure this is the better option.
The 🐦 list would sell it for me :^)
Totally?!
You 2 have done a wonderful job getting it ready to sell. Your description is perfect! I hope they use it.
I hope so and thanks! It's a little stressful!
Fun fact, when I was looking at houses to buy, I NEVER ONCE read a description.
But... I am a data driven nerd. I looked at the floor plan, I looked at the location. I looked at the Internet availability. I looked at the pictures. Then I either short listed it or moved on.
I do like that at bird sighting, number 71, you put the correct common name instead of "BIN CHICKEN".
I totally know people won't read the description!!!
Haha bin chicken...
My goodness I want it! Fabulous. You will have no trouble selling it.
I've sold a few homes, and recently one commercial building. I get very attached to places, almost more than to the people I leave behind. I regret having sold my first home, because subsequent homes have yet to come close to that first one in my affections.
Here's a bit of advice I wish I had followed when I sold that first one: if you get offered your asking price in the first few days, something is wrong. Take it off the market and start again. Or hope for a bidding war.
I hope, for you, for a bidding war that brings in many more thousands than you think it will sell for. It's really lovely.
So was your offer accepted?
Offer still on play, they're trying to milk us for more money.
Hoping for a bidding war but if I get asking price I'll be happy!!!
I think I'll be too busy making a beautiful new house to miss this one.
I would have started with the Shed and work shop !LOL
Hahaha
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He was gladiator.
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@riverflows, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of new.things
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You made a smart choice in changing the description to better match what the place really offers. It’s clear you’ve worked so hard to make it beautiful, peaceful, and welcoming. I also love that you’re adding a list of birds and fruit trees. A lot of people dream of a place where they can enjoy fresh fruit, hear birds in the garden, and feel close to nature.
I hope they put their money into THIS dream!