Kirk Holton Team Blog

Dear Rita,
I am trying to sell my home and waiting eagerly for feedback after
each showing. I have heard that the “ranch” home is back in vogue,
especially for baby boomers. Our home is very convenient and all on
one level, but because of the way it sits on the lot , the garage is
under the house, connecting to the basement. The laundry is also in
the basement. Meanwhile, young couples come to see our home
(prospective buyers) even in workout clothes….and I am trying to
make a point about this.  The feedback is —”we want the garage on
the same level so we don’t have to carry the groceries up the steps.”
And of course the same lady, with a perfect figure, also has to have
the laundry RIGHT next to the kitchen! Can’t these same people who
value physical fitness get over the idea of having to have a main
floor laundry? or..steps up from the garage? Then they would not have
to buy a stair master! Please clue me in!
yours truly,
Nancy needing Wonder Woman and her husband to buy my home.

Dear Nancy,
I totally sympathize with you and have had a lot of mail on this
issue. Now, in fairness, washing the clothes in a river was good
exercise too…but…well.. you get it.
Often, when the home just doesn’t fit the buyers criteria or it just
doesn’t feel right, the buyer chooses this or that defect in their
feedback. And sometimes a buyer falls so in love with a home that they
can overlook an inconvenience. The garage is definitely something you
cannot change…but if there IS a possible spot for main floor
laundry, maybe your realtor could
point that out to buyers. If the laundry and garage are in the
basement area…maybe a facelift is advisable. Make the laundry area
bright, clean, organized and well lit. Keep the area opening to the
garage as tidy as possible, bright and free of clutter. These tips
should help…make the spaces as pleasant as possible…and a lower
level work out room is a good idea too…maybe Wonder Woman will fall
in love after all!. good luck!