It’s kind of funny how sellers see their properties as opposed to real estate professionals.  And although most realtors try to describe a property in the most flattering way, there comes a point to where the description is not truthful.  A lot of people tend to think that these flowery phrases are all the fabrication of the realtor, but in fact, many times the seller dictates how he wants the listing of his property to read.

This being the case, it is the responsibility of the realtor to be honest with his client in sharing the often harsh reality about aspects of the property.  Here are the most common misnomers among sellers that we tackle on a regular basis.

·         If part of a basement is finished and there is an unfinished storage area, it is a partially finished basement.  A fully finished basement has no unfinished areas.

·         A media room consists of a theater-like setting with an oversized wall mounted flat screen television, or projection-type TV, banks of theater-type seating, and professionally installed surround sound speakers; not a room in the house that has a large television, a few speakers mounted to the walls, and a sofa or row of overstuffed chairs.  If you don’t feel like you are in a private theater when you enter the room, you do not have a media room – you have a room in which you watch TV or movies.

·         A workshop is a separate room in a home where there is industrial or commercial grade equipment; not a space in the back of an unfinished basement with a workbench.

·         “New” means brand new, as in installed within the last few weeks or months – otherwise it is considered to be “updated” or “newer” and these phrases must be used with a little common sense.  For example, it is not a new kitchen just because a few appliances have been recently replaced when the 1950s cabinets are still there (even if the cabinets have been painted).

·         It is not a “maintenance-free” deck if the floor of the deck is made of a composite and the railings are wood.

Let’s face it, folks, if potential buyers visit your house based on an unrealistic description, they will leave feeling disappointed or like they have been lied to – and this feeling seldom generates an offer.  Instead, let’s be honest and accurately describe our homes – that way, when buyer’s visit they will know what to truly expect and hopefully leave feeling pleased and intrigued.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri