I really like what my sellers did with their back yard… now we’re just waiting for the grass to grow!

BEFORE

AFTER

My sellers painted the fence, added a bench and some flowers and it already looks so much better!  Do you have any easy staging tips for selling?

I knew the inspection itself had gone okay because my seller was there the entire time (the buyers and their agent were absent) and the inspector seemed to rave to her about what great condition the home was in.  But when I received the buyer’s home inspection contingency removal form this morning, I had to laugh.

The top item?  Remove bird’s nest form rear porch light fixture. Okay.  This we can handle.  But what do you do if the eggs are still in it – or worse – baby birds?!   My seller’s son will look tonight.  If baby birds are present, I think we’ll probably tell the buyer NO.  If they want to be the ones to kill the baby bird(s) they can, but it’s something I’d feel rather badly about otherwise.

No bad MLS pictures today because there were none that were so bad that I shuddered.  In fact, there were many really nice ones from which to choose.

My Favorite!

And the rest of my favorites from the week!

Have a great weekend!

I’m deeply disappointed to not have found this site until now.  The challenge: find the most interesting house in your neighborhood and take a photo. Send it in.  Here are a few!

Go here for more!

The gentleman who owns the regional franchise of a national warranty company stopped by the office today to remind everyone he’s here.  His company is great in that I’ve never EVER had a claim denied when problems arise.  They will probably go up in price in the near future thanks to their coverage of the 13-Seer Heat/Air unit, but for now their one-year home warranty only costs $395.

Mr. BIll said something else, however, that really caught my attention.  But first a disclaimer… I don’t know who. Other warranty companies are starting to stumble.  One has made repairs through a third-party and then not paid the third party.  Another pays referral (or administrative fees) to the firm that writes a warranty on their behalf (i.e., a Realtor orders a warranty for buyer and receives a $60′ish referral fee).  Those checks have begun to bounce.

So if you’re considering buying a home warranty, do some research first.  Ask for a list of references from the company and find out how many claims are honored each year and how many are declined.  You don’t want to pay $400 – 500 for a warranty from a company that closes down.

My friend Kerry Woo posted on his Flickr account photos from the Nashville Urban Living tour held on Sunday, April 19, 2009.  As a result, I’m ready to pack my bags and move downtown!  The tour is sponsored by the Nashville Downtown Partnership:

Downtown is a great home address. Across the country, contemporary urban living is a popular choice for empty-nesters, young professional and others. This event provides an inside look at unique and exciting opportunities for downtown living right here in Nashville. When you see the variety of housing options, the convenience and style, and this diverse, dynamic city neighborhood, you will understand why downtown Nashville is the place to call home!

Some of my favorite photos by Kerry:

I am guilty guilty guilty of rants for posting photos of homes online.  Most potential buyers immediately pass on homes if no one bothered to snap pictures.

Without revealing any details, I will admit that I have a listing that’s “neutral”-challenged.  The personality of the sellers is very much present in the home and nothing I can say or do will convince them to pack or put away the curtains and knick-knacks that scream, “MY house!” (rather, of course, than “This could be YOUR house…”).

So after two months with zero interest from potential buyers, I removed photos yesterday from the listing. I kept the outside pictures because the brick exterior is appealing, but no indoor shots remain.

Today we got our first call for a showing.

It is true… less IS sometimes best.

He was the Godfather of TV production.  He brought us memorable dramas like Dynasty, Charlie’s Angels, and the show that launched his daughter’s career Beverly Hills 90210.  Of course we’re talking Aaron Spelling, the mogul prime time producer.

If you’re a fan of Aaron Spelling and have access to $150 million, then you can buy his Beverly Hills home.  With 56,500 square feet under one roof, you can enjoy a rose garden on the same roof, a beauty parlor in the attic, a reflecting pool, spa, and amazing screening room.  Need servants?  One whole wing is dedicated for service staff and there’s no scrimping for them either – fireplaces, wet bars, kitchen, bedrooms.

When the home was listed in March, Candy Spelling didn’t have a Realtor in mind.  So she and her pooch interviewed several agents.  If the dog didn’t like an agent, he or she was automatically crossed off the list.  I kind of get that, seriously.  I showed a house just yesterday where the dog has nipped at me … it’s important the dog feel comfortable around an agent who comes to the house for safety reasons!

I wonder if the Spelling dog would have liked me?