We have an exciting new project we've been busy working on. Last week we bought a "toy hauler" - a travel trailer that also carries our motorcycle inside.
Toy haulers are hard to find in New Hampshire. The economy pretty much killed the market, and the trailer dealers that do still carry them have a very limited selection. We've been searching online for a used one, and not having much luck...
We wouldn't have gone to see this one if we could have found one closer to us. It was 1 1/2 hours away and based on the pictures online, it did not appear to be worth the trip.
Only 10% of buyers can actually visualize...to 90% of the buyers who saw it, this trailer was not worth further inspection. I can visualize and I only agreed to go see it because I knew it would be disgusting and that would be the end of it.
As expected, it appeared bad... it was dated, dirty, and extremely cluttered. But, in staging terms...
it's perceived value was hiding it's true potential.
It appeared to be poorly maintained, but with closer inspection...
- Inside the microwave - spotless
- Inside the refrigerator- spotless
- Bathroom- very good condition
- Air conditioning and wiring - no problems
The seller used it as a cargo trailer to transport his merchandise to flea markets. His merchandise (term used loosely) was piled up inside and outside when he took the pictures for Craig's List. He's lucky he got any calls at all and the few he did get...well once they saw it in person and took one look inside the door...
lets just say, the offers were not pouring in.
This seller could have sold for a lot more money had he cleaned it out before listing it for sale.
When a seller doesn't prepare their product for sale,
they create an opportunity for a buyer who can visualize to get a great deal.
Coming Up: Photos of our Toy Hauler Transformation
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Ok, if you say so
Sharon- great analogy. So, you guys hauled that thing back home??We want 'after" pics.
Sharon a good comparison and it certainly applies to everything For Sale. When we spruced up our boat it sold to the first person that saw it AND he overlooked some of the issues because it was detailed before we put the photos in Craigslist. The owner of your toy hauler was lucky to have you, with your vision, as a prospect.
Let us know if your "toy hauler" has an Eddie!
Henry: I do
Kathy: Pictures are coming...Part 2 will post tomorrow.
Ginger: It just amazes me that people still try to sell without putting their best possible product out there. In this case...there was no attempt at all. It was really hard to even see inside. We had to move boxes out in order to get a better look. Worked out really well for us!
Roger: No sign of an Eddie yet...I have a feeling he would have shown up by now if there were one because we are changing the place up quite a bit and I don't think ghosts appreciate change. My son may have an Eddie though. His wife came home from work today to find the bathtub faucet running...both the hot and cold running full blast. Neither of them left the house with the water turned on. Also, she heard what sounded like someone jiggling the basement door knob like they were trying to get the door open. She left the house until my son got home. He couldn't find any signs of a break in and nothing is missing. The doors were all locked.
Nice analogy Sharon. Those who don't prepare well leave money on the table!
Sharon
If the home is not ready to be sold - it's not for sale.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Sounds like you got a deal because you found a lazy seller!! GREAT analogy....and looks like a GREAT little "toy"!!! Have fun with it!!
How many opportunities to sell did he lose by not preparing his product to show at its best? Rhetorical question - that's why he sold at a good price to you. Great analogy, Sharon.
Sharon - Sounds like the project might not be too bad once all the junk is out of the trailer. Happy trails to you!
Hi, Sharon. I just showed a cabin the other day where the weeds are waist high. The issues are cosmetic and would have taken only a few hundred dollars to fix but it sure created a negative first impression. The buyers are making an offer on something else....a cabin that is immaculate!
Good for you, to have seen the "bones." I'm with Kathy in Comment #2...how soon do we get the "after" pic?
Tessa: Or in this case, money in MY pocket!
Lou: I'm glad this seller didn't realize that!
Kathy: For the price we paid for this, we could have only bought a flat bed, open cargo type trailer...it was a very good deal.
Michelle: It would have been gone or we would have had to pay his full asking price had it been prepared better. I'm so glad he showed it "as is" and no one else saw the potential.
Judy: It's really coming along...more pics to be posted today.
Leslie: More pics are being posted today and final pics should be within a couple days.
Sounds like they have an Eddie................be nice to him.
Just shows you that the premise of staging can apply to many things. I'll have to look for your follow-up post on this. Great post Sharon!
Roger: We will see if it happens again. I talked to my daughter-in-law today and it was the shower that was running when she got home, not the tub faucet as I originally thought. Either way, really weird.
Charlene: I should have some "after" shots tomorrow. Thanks!