Selling my home people offended by my political belongings.

[samplegirl]

I have my home for sale. Today was open house. My realtor
said everyone had something to say about my personal political belongings. Look, Im not going to go around my house and make
sure all my Kerry stuff is hidden or my negative Bush magnets are
off my refrigerator. If it offends you...then take your ass out
of my house and find another house.
I realize that im in a Yuppie neighborhood which the majority
supported Bush. Out of 200 some homes I saw maybe five Kerry signs.
I feel your buying my house not my political beliefs.
I was appauled to find that my next door Bush loving, home schooling neighbor went through my house with a friend. Made nasty comments
about me loud enough for my Agent to hear. I've poisoned my daughters mind as she has a stand up Kerry in her room. I really felt an
invasion that my neighbor was so nosey. Hope she got and eye full
because I live better than her Repuke ass and im alot happier.

[geomon666]

1. Do you live in the Liberal Amityville House?

"Honey we can't buy this house. All those....liberals were here."

[samplegirl]

7. Doomsayers & Demons

Lurk in every element of this house.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

2. Let them get over it.

Way to shove their noses in it!

[Trajan]

3. I staged my home when I sold it ...

I created a look fr our home which did not exist in real life .. We rearranged furniture, we cleared ALL extraneous materials, including posters and artwork, etc ... We set the table as if we were ready to serve a meal ...

NOTHING about our open house was about us and how we felt: it was all about getting the best price from the best buyer ....

It worked ....

[Blue Diadem]

17. Yep, I've done that twice and it works!

People tend to get distracted by anything that might grab their attention. It's really strange, because they're not buying the seller's "stuff", but yet they choose to pay more attention to that instead of looking at what they are actually buying.

[BlueJazz]

4. Geez..I hate your #@%$$# neighbor and I don't even know her!

..If fact, she pissed me off so much, I'm gonna get some friends and we'll burn her house down. :)

[samplegirl]

8. makes me wonder if she

stole anything on her way out

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Left Is Write]

40. I agree.

Many agents even recommend removing family pictures from the walls when staging your house for selling. It's nothing personal - it's about making sure people can imagine your home as THEIR home.

[Elidor]

6. Tell your realtor, anyone who bitches will pay $10K MORE

Fuck the bastards. Ya gotta teach'em when to STFU.

[Trajan]

10. We once had a fellow employee at work ask ...

Why do we need customers ? ...

EHem ... if the goal is to sell the home for the highest price, the LAST thing you would do is insult prospective 'customers' ....

There are times to make strong political statements, then there are times to 'STFU' and do whats best for your family .... Obstinacy isn't always a virtue ...

[Elidor]

14. Ahhhh, but capital-O Obstinacy is my middle name

I can make a Missouri mule look wishy-washy. And money has never been my primary motivator.

[samplegirl]

15. i was really really upset by this today

One friend suggested I should put all my political belongings
away because my neighborhood is predominately Bush lookers.
I told him nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i wont do it and
I meant it. Thats like me looking at houses with a crucifix and
deciding no I cant buy this one its been blessed.

[Elidor]

20. Well, it *IS* a very practical suggestion

But I understand defiance. I guess it all depends on how well you're doing financially versus the strength of your streak of righteous indignation. I should close all my posts of advice with the disclaimer that I am stubborn and impractical in matters of passion. Take me with a grain of salt and balance your heart and your head.

[Trajan]

22. That is NOT what you want to do ...

You want to CLEAR your house of anything that clutters it or makes it unappealing .... INCLUDING political paraphrenelia ...

NOT because you are sucking up to your neighbors, but because you want the HIGHEST PRICE for your home ....

Isnt it better to just shut up about politics, for only a moment, if it gets your kids a better education ? ....

There are time to do political battle: Selling your home is NOT one of those times ... Do whats right for your family: and strategically stage your home for sale to the highest bidder ....... Get EVERYTHING you can from it ....

[samplegirl]

28. Maybe im not ready to move.

I have a beautiful home and mortgage free. My only daughter is grown.
With Bush economy maybe I should reconsider.

[Bouncy Ball]

9. This is what I would do:

I would take down the anti-bush stuff, but not the Kerry stuff. It's more positive that way.

Also, when we sell this house someday, I've got to figure out a way to sell it only to a disabled minority woman with five kids. I figure it's easy enough for white people like us to buy a house, we want to sell it to someone who typically doesn't get half a shot at buying.

But I can't figure out how you'd go about knowing, since you normally don't even see the buyer until closing.

If at all.

We did sell our last house to a single black woman with a baby. That made me happy. And I bet it made my racist white neighbors across the street unhappy. Too fucking bad. Learn to live with people who don't look like you.

How'd I get off on that?

Anyone who came in here would know our political leanings immediately.

[Zomby Woof]

12. Also make sure...

They don't mind a missing wall which doubles as a bicycle ramp in its spare time. :D ;-) :hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

16. Heh! You remember that!

The bicycle ramp wall is long gone and our daughter's bedroom has been fixed up and re-painted and looks awesome! That third bedroom is HUGE. Or maybe HUGH!!!!!11111

LOL

[Zomby Woof]

19. OMGG!!111

HUGH!

Of course I remember! It made for some fine cheesy poetry! :D

[imenja]

11. 101 of home selling

The buyer needs to feel like he or she can live in the house. You leave nothing around that shows who you are: no family photos, very few or no nicknack's, in short, nothing that displays a personality. If you want to make a political statement, keep the Kerry stuff up. If you want to sell your house, take it down. And I can't blame your realtor for not wanting to waste her time showing a home that she knows faces a greatly reduced chance of selling. She has a job to do and her time, like yours, is valuable.

[samplegirl]

21. My realtor is a personal friend

My home is and extention of my personality. I refuse to take my
family pictures down for anyone. Buy my house and my personal
belongings will be gone. This is just plain silly. If they want
a house that is not lived in..........go buy a new one.
I did the important thing my house was clean and in excellent shape.

[imenja]

27. then be prepared for the fact

it will take a longer to sell and likely fetch a lower price. People aren't interested in buying your personality or your politics.
They are buying a house. This is an economic transaction that depends on their ability to see themselves in the house you currently occupy. Is it possible that deep down you don't want to sell the house? It seems to me that what you are doing is trying to hold on to it.

You might tune in to the show on A & E called "Sell this House." They show how important staging is to selling a house. It makes a huge difference in the selling price.

[samplegirl]

30. I guess its because im really not forced to sell.

Actually the only reason for me to sell is that the house is juat
way to big for me now.
The up-side is Im mortgage free and all the major things are new.
The only way to upgrade would be a brand new home.

[spooky3]

13. remember that buying is an emotional decision...

your objective is to get the maximum amount, as quickly as you can, from buyers, right? You want it to appeal to the largest # of prospects to do this; you don't want to lose a good buyer just because they have political views that are different from yours.

If you have cable, check out "Designing to Sell" on HGTV. Removing the political info is the same thing as removing too many family photos, evidence of pets, clutter, toys, etc., just so that you aren't turning off someone who will give you what you want--a good offer on your house.

Here's another way of looking at it: Wouldn't it feel great to extract the most $ from Rethugs?

[samplegirl]

23. Yes i hope i do extract from a Repuke

but I mean come on what next should I remove my mothers cross above her bed???????????

[chookie]

18. I am sorry you were subjected to this

Having a home on the market (or searching for one) is tough enough. Having one's home invaded by Brown Shirts goosestepping through your belongings on what was strictly a business occasion is horrendous.

You're correct: your neighbor was totally out of line, and vicious, to be nosing around your house, first for entertainment value, and then to malign you in public because of your political beliefs.

Why did they do it? Because they knew they could get away with it. It was up to you to be businesslike, and not to lose your temper, however appropriate it would have been in the circumstance, and be forced to take this viciousness without recourse.

Sadly, they may not be done using you as a plaything yet, and you may find yourself vulnerable to this kind of mobbing (i.e. ganging up upon) by your fascist neighbors until a sale is effected, and I pray that such a sale will be soon. Obviously their lives are very empty and devoid of meaning, and they only feel they have a reason to live when they are tormenting someone; by demonizing someone, they make themselves feel superior -- and it's all they have.

I am very sorry you were subjected to this. I too would have been burning with anger and indignation over such mean-spirited idiocy.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. I think her neighbor was nosing around

You can't convince me she was in the market to buy a house.

[chookie]

34. Um, you can't nose around in an open house?

Yes, true, it is an open house -- which means a HOUSE open to be inspected as a house. NOT someone's lifestyle or political beliefs, and discuss these rudely in a public forum i.e. the same Open House. You look at the chimney, the floors, etc -- not scrutinize the occupants like they were habitants of a zoo.

The individuals who offended the original poster were attacking her PERSONALLY, saying inflammatory things about her in public. That is why I said it was out of line.

An open house is not an open invitation to stick one's nebby nose into another individuals personal affairs and air one's grievances with the owner's political beliefs, which is what occured in this case. neutral event

My post was to offer emotional sympathy to the original poster for having had to endure a public bashing in which she had no recourse.

This is not to say that I do not believe that the original poster was not given good advice in terms of facilitating a rapid sale -- i.e. remove all personal effects. I agree that this would be prudent as well.

I was simply offering some comfort to someone who had had a rough afternoon with some unpleasant characters.

[samplegirl]

25. Thanks Chookie

for some uplifting support. I realize that im a stubborn woman
but my convictions are very strong. I mean its not like I have
a Kerry shrine going on over here. My daughter has a stand-up of
Kerry in her room.
I have a magnet on my refrigarator. Part of my house was financed
by my deceased blue collar, very loving "Democratic father.

[marions ghost]

32. good thing you're moving away

from neighbors like that. A cardboard Kerry and an anti-Bush magnet hardly constitute a mortal insult to others. So should we all pledge alliegance to the Fuhrer, removing all such un-PC signs or symbols from our cars, homes, persons--the areas which we still CAN control? I have a Kerry sticker on my fridge and someone who voted Republican occasionally comes to my house...so I should worry about their being offended by my fridge statements? Is this what we've come to? A name or image from a political campaign is a highly charged offensive message? It should tip them off that maybe we shouldn't discuss politics, but that's about it.

The cross is a good analogy--will it insult a non-Christian who might look at the house? Gimme a break! When I was looking at houses, there were many trappings and decorations I saw that I thought were undesirable, even weird or bizarre. But it never occurred to me that I should be critiquing the homeowner in the process of looking at their house!!

[chookie]

37. That's what I thought

I thought about how I would behave if I participated in an Open House where a freeper was living.

I would have kept my feelings to myself, and treated the owner of the house with courtesy.

I think it would be most disconcerting to be innocently throwing an Open House, and hear a mob start up with the chant "BURN THE WITCH! BURN THE WITCH!" because the home owner had failed to carefully conceal a "Kerry 2004" button!

I hope she didn't leave her DVD of "Motorcycle Diaries" on the coffee table. She may have been wise enough to take down that large oil painting of Lenin from over the fireplace, but no doubt the sharp eye of her neighbor saw the empty hook there, and thought it was probably even something even MORE subversive, like a portrait of Bill Clinton. I hope she remember to turn the spines of those Jane Fonda aerobics videos to face inward, and PRAY no one notices! Turning around her inverted crosses would be easy, and if one is discovered, it is easy to blame it on a faulty nail. I find that Febreze does a great job of masking the odor of offerings to Satan.

Perhaps as a business matter, to facilitate a rapid sale, it is prudent to remove all personal effects (because obviously most people are so psycho that if they see a knick knack they disapprove of, they fly into uncontrollable rages which slow down the sale :-)) -- however, for neighbors to stick their claws into the individual having the Open House for personal reasons is highly inappropriate, and most discourteous.

[samplegirl]

38. I guess im just not that desperate to sell

If they are that interested in concerning themselves with personal
belongings then maybe they should go to Walmart and buy there decor
first and then find a house in need of costly repairs.

[DistressedAmerican]

26. Good For You. I Hope A Repug Buys It For Way More Than It Is Worth

and your leftie vibes permiate every crack and crevace of the place to drive them crazy for years to come!

[shesemsmom]

29. Screw them

your house doean't need them any way. It would surely barf them out:puke:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

31. I guess I'll have to remove my Bush doormat when I sell my house

and paint over the giant mural I have on my living room wall, depicting George Bush getting impaled by Jeff Gannon. That just might offend some people.

[samplegirl]

36. LMAO

Can you paint one of those on my walls? Im sure to sell it, as there
is no shortage of "Dumb people" anymore.

[Nite Owl]

35. On the opposite side of this

when I was selling my house on LI I had someone who cancelled an appointment to see the house because he found out I lived up the block from our Repuke congressman. They were quite excited about seeing the place as it was just what they were looking for but when they found this out they said that they couldn't let their kids be exposed to someone like that. What could I say, I couldn't stand the guy either.

[JohnnyRingo]

39. I would have just raided your medicine cabinet

Open house Sunday is never a fruitless endeavor.

[tigereye]

41. well

if emotional appeal is anything, maybe some nice Dems will buy your house!

[FunkyLeprechaun]

42. Shoot...

Now you've got me wondering.

My parents live in the same sort of neighbourhood (which fortunately went Kerry last year and was reported in the AP in December or January). Both of my parents are die-hard liberals but there's no trace of their politics in any room of their house except mine. They usually give me what they pick up on the political campaign trail.

You see. I LOVE collecting political memoralbia, I have Wellstone, Kerry signs, FDR, JFK, LBJ memoralbia. Mostly 20th century Democratic campaign memoralbia. some of it is framed and hanging on the wall. the buttons are on a shelf in a display case. I have pictures of JFK and Lincoln on the wall. Some political books as well Eisenhower, JFK, Lincoln on display above the liberal tomes.

That's hard to put away.. because I'm a packrat and the "storage" I have is already filled to the seams.

Ebay here I come!

[Piedras]

43. Getting the most money and a faster sale.

samplegirl,

Sorry to read about the nasty comments your neighbor made during your open house. They're hurtful and in bad taste. Open Houses are pretty much open to anyone and everyone. Some, especially neighbors, may only be curiouser lookers. It's a good time to be gone and let your Realtor do their job marketing your house.

Like you, I'm a liberal. I'm also a real estate broker and a Realtor. I'm not your broker or Realtor. So can't begin to know all the facts and emotions you're going thru.

Several people have shared the idea that a house will sell more quickly, and for the most money, if it's staged for sale and the decor is neutralized and de-cluttered. They're giving you good advice that I concur with.

In my experience it's good to start packing early. When potential buyers see well organized boxes in the garage they get a subtle message that you're serious about selling, and moving on with your life. Your political memorabilia is important and precious to you. Pack it up safely.

You write that you don't have to sell. Ask yourself, are you really motivated to sell and move on with your life? If you are then staging your house to sell should not be too much of a chore.

BTW, it's true, people are emotional when buying a home. They need to picture themselves happily living in it. Help them. The more people who see and like your house, who feel it's a best buy, the sooner you'll sell. Done well and you might have multiple offers which often leads to the highest sale price with best terms.

Steve

[Piperay]

44. Watch H&G's "Designed to Sell"

they ALWAYS recommend putting away anything personal and anything setting on counters, refrig magnets etc to make the house look roomier and to de-personalize it. Designed to Sell has people take out excess furnishings and anything that adds clutter and takes up space to help the seller get more money. As far as the neighbor, neighbors coming in are pretty common. I just got a postcard in my mail about a house around the corner and it is INVITING the neighbors to come to the open house and bring their friends. :wow:

I think it stinks that people made rude comments but I guess if I went into a house with repug stuff around I would probably makes some insulting remarks myself. No actually I wouldn't, cause I am polite. I would probably just be disgusted and turned off of the house or maybe I would want the house more so I could unrepuke it. :evilgrin:

[sbj405]

45. Most rethugs would be perfectly willing to set aside their "beliefs"

in the face of a good deal or the chance to mortgage themselves to the gills to live in the yuppie neighborhood. I wouldn't worry about it, unless the market is taking a downturn where you are and you need to sell ASAP.

[tjwmason]

47. It's not setting aside beliefs.

It's just like not trying to sell with the walls painted black. What is inside a house gives a strong impression to people, if the viewer is a pubby then they will be dislike Kerry things - if you want to cut off a large swathe of the potential market, fine by me but it's cutting off your nose to spite your face i.m.o.

[tjwmason]

46. A sane estate agent would say the same things about pro-bush stuff

It's just the way life is.

When people look round a house as prospective buyers, the decor will influence whether they like the house (even if they're going to remove it all). I would say that anything controversial (which includes everything political) should be removed, and could be removed without compromising principles.

Edit spelling.

[Goathead]

48. So, she had no intention of buying your house?

She just wanted to look around your stuff. I would go confront her. Ask her what she thought and if she was interested in buying. When she says no to this tell her to mind her own fucking business and stay the fuck off your property or the next time you'll call the cops.