| Page 2 of 5 < > |
20 Pros, One Savvy Couple, A Fast Sale
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
* * *
On Utah Avenue, preparations leading up to the mass visit actually began in November when Wilson, the Evers listing agent, met with the owners, Alan Lee and his wife, Christina Cornell. The couple plan to retire in North Carolina.
They talked about a few fix-ups on the three-bedroom 1930 house, which has high ceilings and a hot tub tucked inside a small brick room in the garden.
In the end, the couple spent about $5,000. They replaced a back door. Painted some areas. Did some minor carpentry in the basement. Fixed the brick walkway out front.
In the meantime, Lee started tracking every home in his 20015 Zip code priced between $700,0o0 and $1 million.
"I like to play with numbers," said Lee, an accountant.
Wilson also kept up on the "comps" -- sales of comparable homes in the neighborhood. She prides herself on pricing things right.
On that Tuesday, after the agents walk through the house, they stand in the driveway exchanging thoughts.
"The kitchen is gorgeous," agent Rachel Burns pipes in.
But with the praise comes criticism. Some note that there is only one bathroom upstairs, and that might turn off prospective buyers.
"It looks so perfect, people will forget about the bathroom," Bannier retorts. "I think the low eights is too low."
"It should sell for under $800,000," says Susan Berger, who tosses out $789,000. A few minutes later, she concedes: "I'm willing to accept the criticism. I was low."
