Just purchased a house on the market for 9 months with 7 different carpets, gold fixtures everywhere, doorway draperies leading to other rooms, etc. We saw beyond this and yes, spending on wood floors, painting every surface, and replacing all the gold items. We were thrilled that the seller wanted the audacious lighting fixtures and draperies. "Yes, you may take them." It was they take them or rent a haul off trash container. Expensive remodel but on the bright side, it was a great value due to the days on market.
I’m a new dad, I moved to the Bay Area a few years ago and I’m thinking of purchasing a single family home, but with real estate prices currently through the roof, is it still a good idea to buy a home or should I invest in stocks for now and just wait for a housing market correction? I heard Nvidia and AMD are strong buys.
Certain Ai companies are rumoured to be overvalued and might cause a market correction, I’d suggest you go with a managed portfolio, but even those don’t perform so well, so it’s best you reach out to a proper fiduciary to guide you, that’s what works for my spouse and I.
There are a handful of experts in the field. I've experimented with a few over the past years, but I've stuck with ‘’ Melissa Terri Swayne” for about five years now, and her performance has been consistently impressive. She’s quite known in her field, look-her up.
The "Audra" voice/effect made this way better. So this is what we sound like to our buyer agent. Currently looking for the last 9 months or so and finding many of these issues on repeat.
My wife just told me to subscribe to help you make it to 50,000. I wouldn't normally, but you got some amazing advice. Our kids jumped on board. Good luck
I recently started watching you & I appreciate your advice. I made a mistake hiring an inexperienced realtor whom I’m currently stuck with til 11/1. Wish I’d have watched your show much sooner! Also love your sense of humor! Keep up the wonderful work you do, thanks again!
Fun video ... loved your "fine whine"! I remember exactly what our real estate agent said when she first walked into the house we sold 25 years ago and saw the freshly repainted white walls, neutral color carpet and tile and our non-furniture belongings in a neat pile of boxes waiting for the movers: "This is going to be easy." The house sold at full asking price to the first person who looked at it. Maybe we would should have waited for overbids but we immediately took the house off the market since it was cash offer with no contingencies, it seemed like a sure thing since the buyer's sister was a neighbor and we had already unexpectedly quickly found and bought what my wife still calls her "dream house".
Times sure have changed. When we bought our first two homes we weren’t concerned about paint colours or staging etc, it was the big stuff like roof, windows, furnace you wanted to be sure were in good shape. We hope to sell in the next couple years, not looking forward to all the perfecting that is expected. In Canada and it’s the same expectations, HGTV has ruined everything! 🤪
apparently they have. Me? I want to pick the colors and the finishes. Guess we now must guess what the "buyer" wants. What if I pick neutral countertops of quartz and they really want black granite?
@@e-spy we won’t be doing “renovations” before selling, just the smaller stuff that makes sense. Is my kitchen tired? Yes. Is it falling apart, no. So a new buyer can make it a dream once it’s theirs. The return would not be worth the time, effort and expense. Choose wisely what you do before selling. I had a bathroom contractor tell me they rip out so many nice updated bathrooms because new owners want what they want instead!
To make a first floor office into a bedroom is easy. What is difficult and very costly is adding a full bathroom to go with that new first floor bedroom.
I'd love to have enough money one day like Audra's clients- to be able to gripe about everything that didn't meet my exact specificifications.Or one that has EVERYTHING done, so that I can move in and not have to do a single thing. Must be nice.
Informative as always, and a little fun never hurts. I've really been focusing on info for sellers because I want to sell my house, but it's helpful to hear feedback from buyers' viewpoints as well. Thanks for sharing Audra.
OMG .. what are these people thinking ?? Let's move next to the airport and complain about the noise OR Let's move next to the dairy farm and complain about the smell OR Let's buy next to the mall and complain about the traffic ... I've heard all three of these where I live .. Great video
Brag to everyone how you got a fantasy deal on a house next to a pub then complain and call the cops every Friday night because of the noise. Double glazed your windows and buy earplugs! Now you know why it was so cheap!
I hate multiple flooring. It looks so cheap because it is. I have not seen it much but one older house I looked at had probably 5 types on the first floor and it was clear they changed as little as they had to each time. Of course there were a lot of other undesirable issues. I did not even go upstairs. I bought another home in the same neighborhood that was on a quieter street with a lot more updates including roof and windows and unified flooring at a price only slightly higher.
I say F the buyer complaints. If you don't like the house, DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!!!!!! QUIT watching HGTV! Why the hell should I remodel my house to suit YOU?
Our house is on the market as I type and yes I’m annoyed after hearing the feedback after showing . It’s clearly stated in the listing everything a buyer wants to know . I live in Canada btw.
Watch Audra's vids on staging! It's a game changer!! I followed her advise and had 3 buyers love everything about the "dream house". Took it off the market and not going back on after downsizing to a coastal town.
I love this channel, just discovered it. That being said, if you are unable to get insurance in your desired area, don't buy! This may be becoming common place in CA, but that should be a HUGE wakeup call for people to move out of the state!
Great advise as always. I can’t believe people are making some of these grips, ie; I don’t like the neighborhood. So why are they looking there? A waste of time for the realtor. I bought a home in San Diego and I loved it but I could also see the changes I wanted to make. I didn’t haggle on the selling price and I made those changes myself. Made double what I paid for it including the money I paid for the upgrades. Sometimes, if you just want different paint or carpet, it just makes sense to buy the home if you really love it and make the changes yourself including take down walls if it’s possible. In my case it was. I should add, yes, definitely paint the walls white. Some sellers make changes the buyer won’t like. For instance painting the walls grey or put up tile back splash in the kitchen that’s grey or some ugly color that will go out of style quickly. I prefer to make my own changes so I look for homes that haven’t had those kind of upgrades. It’s easier to negotiate if a home needs those kind of upgrades. Yep, I really don’t like the color grey.😂
Exactly! I agree with you. I don’t even bother with neighborhoods I am not interested in living in. I also don’t let paint colors deter me either. That’s an easy cosmetic change. If someone doesn’t what to buy a house because of paint colors, I can bet they are not that interested in buying the house in the first place. I rarely like the colors chosen and have always made changes to my preferred color.
Good video Audra, My advantage is everything has been up graded and well maintained. The color of my walls will stay because I may not sell because I may not be able to get into another home of the same quality I have now. I’ve been in construction all my life and what I have beats most of what is on the market today. I may have to accept where I live because at least I have a home and I am 100% grateful for that!
Wow I’m currently buying a new build in Cali and I’m contingent. You have to be the best realtor youtuber out there. I watched your latest video and this one. Yeah, you are the best
ok! I've subscribed and some of my family members as well! I totally wish you the very best to get to 50.000 and more! I enjoy your voice, your information and your enthusiasm to helping all of us. Have yourself a good year and wishing you the very best. I'll be watching!!
Regarding pets, there was one house that we referred to as the cat-urine house. We used a different word, but making it TH-cam friendly. They had replaced the carpeting throughout the vacant house, but the subfloor upstairs must have been saturated too.
I just went through this with my recently deceased daddy’s rental house I have up for sale. The previous tenants had a cat. The house definitely had a cat urine smell. I tried various different things to get rid of the smell and finally was told to use vinegar and water and wash walls up to 1 ft high . Finally got rid of the cat odor!!! Helped to leave windows open all day for 3-4 days too. Make sure to replace the furnace filter too. 4:31
Painted the whole house white! Extra white, SW. It's a neutral with some blue. All views lead to the blue lagoon pool so I think it works in hot east coast of Florida. It makes the house look bright and bigger. Agents are always saying keep color on the walls and white baseboards... Sure, it's "cozy" but we want clean, bright and inviting. Hope this works!
We didn’t buy a house we loved because it backed up to a campground. We stood in the back yard and the sound of kids screaming was so loud we couldn’t hear each other talk. While we love children, that would have gotten old fast.
Yes, I agree with your gripes from buyers because we were one of them. Our top three criteria from Phoenix were 1. No two story house next-door. 2. Park adjoining the back yard. 3. Deep water pool. We searched for a long time and paid full pride with concessions five years ago. Very happy! We have sufficient cash to perhaps go back to California near Laguna Beach. My question to Audra which is rare: I am 100% Permanent and Total Disabled Veteran. If I purchase a home for an arbitrary $800k price, what will California tax me for property tax? I could not get anyone to call on that topic in any government agency. Just a busy signal or elevator music on hold for hours. Thanks, I hope that is not too hard to answer!
My home was on the market for only 4 days. Priced right, not under priced. It stood out from the others. I got a lot of good ideas and information from your videos. Plus, I have an amazing realtor and team. Thanks for what you do! 🩷
This is the big disconnect; buyers want everything to look like a model home but they want the price to be as low as a home with deferred maintenance, no upgrades and dated styles. Sellers often want to do no major work on the home before selling but to just to reap the rewards of well-maintained, upgraded homes in their same location. Often houses that are not truly comparable in condition, location and amenities are used for the subject property to arrive at a higher list price. There are biases each way.
To Some of the folks on this comment section… agree with this comment. Real estate markets aren’t necessarily about ‘new versus old’. There are many factors that affect decisions of a buyer….location, perhaps school district, work viability, transportation issues, etc. Not apples to oranges. But, if a buyer is looking for something so specific in terms of the ‘House’…they may just not find it all. What seems lost on current buyers is that they perhaps don’t have the ability, or time, or vision, or money…whatever it is….then, stop watching HGTV and get real about the priorities. The market will always be the market. Maybe you are a buyer and suddenly one day, you are (and may HAVE to be) a seller. You either may buy in or sell in the current market -high or low. It doesn’t make you good or bad. Blessings to all!
Too many sellers don’t want to spend money to maintain their homes yet want top dollar when they sell. When you have a high price, people’s expectations are higher.
I love your videos, but I would love to see some advice for new construction and the buyer's agents responsibilities there. Builders' contracts are a lot different from state-promulgated contracts used for resale, typically written in the builder's favor by the builder's attorneys.
Thank you for mentioning Benjamin Moore White Dove as a good white paint color. I wanted to transition to white walls and didn’t know which white. That color has been around for many years and I didn’t know it was still trending.
Hi Audra, love your channel. You mentioned cats but we have found that the smell of dogs is very off-putting to us as buyers. Don't sellers realize that their large dogs smell?
Just passed you along to a friend because you are one sharp, clever, funny woman. Maybe one bit closer to your 50,000 goal! Thanks for your very helpful videos.
Audra, do You think it would be ok if I just want private showings as opposed to open houses? Id like to avoid non-serious lookie-loos lol I def wont do a lock box. I love all your info. New subscriber here! Wish you were here in FL to sell my home. Realtors (so far) have been horrendous.
welcome to the channel and nice to connect. It's completely up to you and what you are comfortable with. We do only private showings on our listings so we are there representing our clients the way we know best. With that being said on most of our listings we do open houses as well however some clients prefer not to. Sorry to hear about your agents not working out so far. Let us know if we can help in any way.
Its been a rule in real estate for 60 years. Buyers OVER estimate the cost to repair or change when making an offer OR UNDER estimate the value of something that has already been done. IE...kitchen remodel or landscape project.
k, had the plumbing redone throughout, new furnace/ac, windows (pellas). soft water. Swiss coffee already here. But the flooring? it would cost me at least 20k for the entry/hall/kitchen/bath. Office in the main that could be a bedroom. I work from home. kitchen could use an update. I am not better homes and gardens (though the garden? professionally done and beautiful, even a garden bench in the quaint iron fenced veggie garden). But I can't do all this, maam. I'm just too friggin old and here we are. selling. I love your videos but sometimes I think they are not realistic for the average, not million dollar home. Can you please do some for the not advantaged homeowners?
After watching this video, if I was selling my home (I'm not), I would ask my agent to seek out a young family wanting to get into their first home that is willing to accept an updated, well-maintained but almost 50-year old home for what it is. I would be willing to take a lower, fair but not lowball price just to make it a pleasant experience for all involved. And all of those complainers could just go back to watching HGTV from their rented apartments.
Your realtor doesn't typically get to chose who is wanting to see the house. It's all about the people be attracted to your area, but things are a lot more sane in entry level single family homes. They expect to have to make some compromises and do some things on their own. I think Audra is selling to higher end clientele that have a lot more money and options.
This is exactly what I’m hoping for. As property manager for my 80+ year old daddy’s rental properties these last 7 years , I made many repairs and upgrades. On the single family home I replaced the HVAC unit in 2023, Painted the whole house a light tan and replaced the old worn out carpet with vinyl plank flooring in shades of tan, beige& chocolate brown throughout the whole house. In June of this year I had new roof put on and most recently I had the old, cracked , leaky tub/ shower unit removed and floor under rebuilt and installed new tub/shower unit. I am replacing a double-paned window that I noticed was broken. I had a new heat/exhaust fan installed in the bathroom and replaced all the rusty vents in the ceiling. It has a fenced in backyard and a nice size front yard. 2 BR ,1 bath, Large LR, Kitchen/DR area combined. I would love to see a young family living there.🙂 5:05
Audra, I have a ranch home that I'm preparing to sell next year and someone put an exterior door in my dining room that has a half moon glass at the top going out to a big porch and I hate it anyway, but especially on the back of the house. I'm thinking frosted full view or clear glass with the blinds built into the glass. Any suggestions?
I have a 2860 sq ft home. Main flooring is a neutral large square tile) and split plan 4 bedrooms are also tile but wood look in a lighter color. Is this an issue?
We have a 10-year old home and just invested in it for the next 10-years and have no intention of selling. If we were going to sell then we would just need to paint the house white and declutter our personal items.
Q: I have painted wood plank floors because they can’t be sanded and stained. Is this a problem? I can freshen them up with a new coat quite easily. PLEASE respond.
I appreciate this video. I do not plan on selling in the next 10 years... but I do want to remodel bathroom and kitchen in the next 5 years. Is there any products (no white cabinet kitchen, please) that would hold value and buyer acceptability Ober a longer period of time? I lived with white walls for too many years. When I go to sell, I'll have them repainted white. For now, just materials in bathrooms and kitchens that might not be dated in 10 years.. Yes. I know... you need a crystal ball to predict this. So maybe just your perspective. Thank you from the southwestern metro area in Colorado (think the foothills, small back yard open to a municipal reservoir - private - with 2000 square feet inside, newer hvac and water heater, no carpet on floors, no pets)
I would speak with your accountant and make a plan to avoid paying too much in capital gains tax, I don't want to give out tax advice, not my area of expertise. Thanks for watching!
This TH-cam channel, ‘Mark Tobin Kitchen Design’ is a great resource for kitchen design trends, included dated designs, as well as designs that stand the test of time.
wood floors look good in certain places but i regretted putting in wood instead of just putting in nice carpet. It's a lot louder/echoey with wood, it creates a slip hazard when wet or using the wrong rugs that slip. Wood is a lot harder to fix if there is a problem which does happen like big gouges etc. Carpet section replacements are common, easy, and undetectable. Wood sucks, really good carpet is fine. Did i mention the slip factor?
Off-gassing of carpets?! We pulled up 1800 sq ft of carpet (some of it shag carpet from god knows how long ago (gross)), the debris and stains under it was so disgusting. So, no, thanks. Underneath? Hardwood oak floors which are now immaculate. And, use only environmentally friendly cleaning, so yes. And, it’s not loud… Slip? We clean up spills, have area rugs that can be easily cleaned, no ‘slips’. Should we have to move, the next owners can do whatever, our area resale values are high for hardwood floors installed, clean, easy maintenance. Win-win.
Another excellent video! Thank You for what obviously takes considerable time and effort (and, needless to say, skills) to produce a 5-star product! Young lady, I always enjoy your videos, learn a lot, and find your presentation style terrific. I always watch your videos! You'll flash past 50K soon. I can easily see 500K subscribers. But hand on heart, I sense that, given our changing world, the day is slowly approaching when real estate agents are going the way of the landline. The Internet and AI will bury the concept/need for the industry entirely. End of rant. :>)
This sounds like bad communication. The agent and buyer should be talking about what is important to the buyer. That would greatly cut down on touring homes.
Anyone complaining that buyers are too picky, this video is intended to let motivated sellers know how buyers think and determine how to best position your home. Your home is an asset that you can either try to get the most money for or be stubborn and have it sit on the market and settle for a lowball offer months down the road. Also having a home on the market is stressful. I like selling quick. A lot less time keeping it model perfect.
Love your impersonations, and agree that buyers can be ridiculous. On the other hand, sellers have been conditioned to price their homes at top dollar. With high prices come high expectations. Buyers will be a lot more forgiving of paint color if the house is very well priced.
Lol. I don’t think I’m quite that whiny. 😂😂 I got no issues if it’s good bones and good basics and they just keep it simple. Lol. I hate having to try and think up what would match what in multiple areas. (Esp tile, flooring etc). Major subpar issues with the innards are a deal breaker, esp if there are no concessions for them. If I have to deal with the latter, it should be reflected in the price. Am I wrong? Asking for too much? I don’t think so. Lol. I also check out and research the area first and foremost (before I proceed-as it’s kind of pointless to find the perfect home in the wrong location), so that is kind of a non issue for me, unless it was some unknown fluke I wasn’t aware of.
This night be true in most states, but here in Florida insurers are a bit finicky. Many are not underwriting new policies but won't cancel existing policies. In addition to high property insurance, the property taxes a new buyer pays are based on the purchase price of the house. Our taxes almost doubled the first year after we bought the house from the original owner whose tax base wass obviously much lower.
Always amazing how many people can’t just paint a room the color they want it themselves. I’ve stripped wallpaper & completely repainted the entire inside of my last 2 houses myself. No one is ever going to have your exact taste so save your money, put in the sweat equity and get a good deal and make it your own. Stark white walls & grey anything will be the first thing I’m repainting or redoing. Why would I pay a premium for someone else’s tastes👎🏼Don’t even get me started on all these grey floors people install before they sell😵
Well goodness I would think that as far as the location is concerned they did their homework or should why would you even put anyone your realtor anybody they're going to physically see a property that you know you have location issues with Lord have mercy
@@AudraLambert Thank you, Audra, please, is it permissable to ask that the broker be present with our agent, if hopefully when, we close on the sale of our house(the agent has made innumerable missteps handling sale of our house) my husband would not let me vet properly like you suggested, now here we are 😳😭
Keep in mind that Good School Scores come from two groups: PTO Moms who cheerlead the scores (resulting in good scores) and Grumpy Parents with a Grievance (resulting in poor scores).
People are never happy. We are CONSTANTLY trying to stay “updated” but then, a short while after, oh, no, everything looks dated. We’re always chasing trends and then regretting that it’s too trendy. WTF. Unplug, people.
White walls remind me of a college apartment. Or, really, any apartment building. Doesn’t flatter most furniture, especially today's whitewash or chalk paint styles.
While getting ready to sell, it would have been a lot easier for me if the interior walls were white. We hadn't ever planned to leave there and I had painted much of the interior in earth tones that felt comfortable to me. The "paint matched" paints to touch up didn't match well (mainly too much shine) and I spent far too much time trying to match & feather in, eventually giving up although I was continually aggravated every time I saw the less-than-perfect finishes. It would have been a lot faster to hire painters to repaint it all white or off-white, since we already had to our things out in order to replace flooring. Luckily it was an entry-level home with fairly new big-ticket systems in a community where homes in that price bracket & in good repair don't come up often. The one room that was still white was easiest to get ready, just clean the walls and fill nail holes. 😄
If I hear "Open Floor Plan" one more time... OMG. Go buy a warehouse! People have been building houses for eons. Do builders really think no one had thought of this before? There is a reason for dedicated rooms. No one wants to walk into your house and smell the dinner you had a few hours ago or see dirty dishes.
It’s called Angry August. People are grumpy, I see it in the tourists while working in a tourism area. You’d think they’d be happy being on vacay. NOT, they’re grumpier than heck, waited too long for a vacay, getting the kids back to school, the kids are making the parents grumpy, it’s hot , etc etc etc… we are very glad to see the month of August move along. We can make it fine without these types. These gripes you’re illuminating have a familiar tone.
Neighbours have budgies squawking all day long outside hanging in their tree. Little kids screaming and crying and throwing temper tantrums, hoarder with lots of garbage and junk and messy yard, loud partier neighbours, this surrounds me and I am glad I will be listing in February and it will be snow covered and quiet.
Subscribed while ago for your insights and directness. Took your advice in making necessary renovations (neutral color, value priced materials, fit neighborhood) and very happy with results. Thanks! Question: do I put $ into basement? (Was finished but badly, so ripped out everything to cinder blocks. Could use a home office and guest room. Not ready to move for couple years. But contractors estimates $100,000+) How do I decide if it’s worth the $ or just sell for lower price in neighborhood where homes all with finished basement?
A good real estate agent in your area will be able to answer that for you. I am in process of selling my home and my agent ruled out the things I wouldn't see ROI in.
If white walls bother you, rethink it. What color are the walls in art museums? White. To show off the art. Buy some art that is meaningful to you and enjoy your unique home that really reflects you.
Just purchased a house on the market for 9 months with 7 different carpets, gold fixtures everywhere, doorway draperies leading to other rooms, etc. We saw beyond this and yes, spending on wood floors, painting every surface, and replacing all the gold items. We were thrilled that the seller wanted the audacious lighting fixtures and draperies. "Yes, you may take them." It was they take them or rent a haul off trash container. Expensive remodel but on the bright side, it was a great value due to the days on market.
sounds like you found what you were looking for and good for you for being able to see beyond it sounds like it'll be amazing
Watched this as a buyer, in a totally different market, to see if I'm being reasonable or if I'm crazy. Loved your buyer complaint voice.
Haha, thank you so much for reaching out and your kinds words! Good luck with finding a new home.
I’m a new dad, I moved to the Bay Area a few years ago and I’m thinking of purchasing a single family home, but with real estate prices currently through the roof, is it still a good idea to buy a home or should I invest in stocks for now and just wait for a housing market correction? I heard Nvidia and AMD are strong buys.
it’s a personal decision, but according to Forbes, housing activities will remain stagnant for the most part of the year, so maybe hold off a little.
well you could put a downpayment on a home and as well diversify as much as you can into Ai and pharm. stocks like Pfizer and JnJ.
Certain Ai companies are rumoured to be overvalued and might cause a market correction, I’d suggest you go with a managed portfolio, but even those don’t perform so well, so it’s best you reach out to a proper fiduciary to guide you, that’s what works for my spouse and I.
this is all new to me, where do I find a fiduciary, can you recommend any?
There are a handful of experts in the field. I've experimented with a few over the past years, but I've stuck with ‘’ Melissa Terri Swayne” for about five years now, and her performance has been consistently impressive. She’s quite known in her field, look-her up.
The "Audra" voice/effect made this way better. So this is what we sound like to our buyer agent. Currently looking for the last 9 months or so and finding many of these issues on repeat.
Thank you so much!!!! I love getting feedback! I greatly appreciate your kind words and thanks for watching! Good luck with your search!
My wife just told me to subscribe to help you make it to 50,000. I wouldn't normally, but you got some amazing advice. Our kids jumped on board. Good luck
Thank you for the kind words and support!
@@AudraLambert absolutely!
I recently started watching you & I appreciate your advice. I made a mistake hiring an inexperienced realtor whom I’m currently stuck with til 11/1. Wish I’d have watched your show much sooner! Also love your sense of humor! Keep up the wonderful work you do, thanks again!
The buyers' "voice" is hilarious 😂😂
Good advice and humor ..thank you!! 👏👏 💕
happy to make you laugh and thank you!
Your buyer impressions are hilarious. 😅 Thanks, We're 60 DOM.
Thank you Mary!!! Much appreciated! Good luck with the sale of your home
Fun video ... loved your "fine whine"! I remember exactly what our real estate agent said when she first walked into the house we sold 25 years ago and saw the freshly repainted white walls, neutral color carpet and tile and our non-furniture belongings in a neat pile of boxes waiting for the movers: "This is going to be easy." The house sold at full asking price to the first person who looked at it. Maybe we would should have waited for overbids but we immediately took the house off the market since it was cash offer with no contingencies, it seemed like a sure thing since the buyer's sister was a neighbor and we had already unexpectedly quickly found and bought what my wife still calls her "dream house".
wow great to hear I'm glad you seemed to have quick and smooth experience -those things do make a difference
Times sure have changed. When we bought our first two homes we weren’t concerned about paint colours or staging etc, it was the big stuff like roof, windows, furnace you wanted to be sure were in good shape.
We hope to sell in the next couple years, not looking forward to all the perfecting that is expected. In Canada and it’s the same expectations, HGTV has ruined everything! 🤪
apparently they have. Me? I want to pick the colors and the finishes. Guess we now must guess what the "buyer" wants. What if I pick neutral countertops of quartz and they really want black granite?
@@e-spy we won’t be doing “renovations” before selling, just the smaller stuff that makes sense. Is my kitchen tired? Yes. Is it falling apart, no. So a new buyer can make it a dream once it’s theirs. The return would not be worth the time, effort and expense. Choose wisely what you do before selling. I had a bathroom contractor tell me they rip out so many nice updated bathrooms because new owners want what they want instead!
@@marthonic1 I agree!
could be true but neutral seems to always be best
I hear you
I love your "Complainers" voice. I'm sure that;s how they sound LOL!
Hahahaha! Exactly like that ;)
Why are these buyers wasting everyone's time looking at homes in areas they don't like? Makes no sense.
I couldn't agree more!
My home is now off the market. I love my home and will stay in it!!!
Why don't they just buy land and build their own homes?
I don’t look at a house with a master bathroom upstairs or near a busy street.
What's a typical cost per square foot for that? @@rebeccaburgess5333
To make a first floor office into a bedroom is easy. What is difficult and very costly is adding a full bathroom to go with that new first floor bedroom.
@@deborahpondermance2795 Than buy a home with 2 bathrooms.
I'd love to have enough money one day like Audra's clients- to be able to gripe about everything that didn't meet my exact specificifications.Or one that has EVERYTHING done, so that I can move in and not have to do a single thing. Must be nice.
Anything I do to my home going forward is for me. My home is well maintained. People are ridiculous!!!
Informative as always, and a little fun never hurts. I've really been focusing on info for sellers because I want to sell my house, but it's helpful to hear feedback from buyers' viewpoints as well. Thanks for sharing Audra.
my pleasure
You rock Ms. Audra and thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks so much!!! You're one of my biggest fans!
I look forward to your videos each week, not only are they informative they are entertaining! The "Audra" voice is great!!
You made my day, I really appreciate your kind words and thanks for watching :)
OMG .. what are these people thinking ?? Let's move next to the airport and complain about the noise OR Let's move next to the dairy farm and complain about the smell OR Let's buy next to the mall and complain about the traffic ... I've heard all three of these where I live ..
Great video
Brag to everyone how you got a fantasy deal on a house next to a pub then complain and call the cops every Friday night because of the noise. Double glazed your windows and buy earplugs! Now you know why it was so cheap!
I hate multiple flooring. It looks so cheap because it is. I have not seen it much but one older house I looked at had probably 5 types on the first floor and it was clear they changed as little as they had to each time. Of course there were a lot of other undesirable issues. I did not even go upstairs. I bought another home in the same neighborhood that was on a quieter street with a lot more updates including roof and windows and unified flooring at a price only slightly higher.
Congratulations on 50K! I helped! I subscribed and got my little sister to as well. You’re worthwhile and inspirational.
I say F the buyer complaints. If you don't like the house, DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!!!!!! QUIT watching HGTV! Why the hell should I remodel my house to suit YOU?
BC you get more MONEY!
Our house is on the market as I type and yes I’m annoyed after hearing the feedback after showing . It’s clearly stated in the listing everything a buyer wants to know . I live in Canada btw.
I swear they don't read the details and descriptions sometimes! Best of luck selling your home!
Watch Audra's vids on staging! It's a game changer!! I followed her advise and had 3 buyers love everything about the "dream house". Took it off the market and not going back on after downsizing to a coastal town.
This video has convinced me not to move. It’s too much work and too much money.
Same here , I thought I would like to downsize after my husband and I finally retire, but I’m rethinking that plan after hearing this video 😏.
@@cindypatrick785 Not that hard. Hire a painter and get a storage unit. Then find your dream retirement home and have much less work!
I love this channel, just discovered it. That being said, if you are unable to get insurance in your desired area, don't buy! This may be becoming common place in CA, but that should be a HUGE wakeup call for people to move out of the state!
Love your videos.
We bought a home and it was because of its location. Plus it was a huge huge 1950's ranch.
thanks for the kind words and your house sounds amazing
Great advise as always. I can’t believe people are making some of these grips, ie; I don’t like the neighborhood. So why are they looking there? A waste of time for the realtor. I bought a home in San Diego and I loved it but I could also see the changes I wanted to make. I didn’t haggle on the selling price and I made those changes myself. Made double what I paid for it including the money I paid for the upgrades. Sometimes, if you just want different paint or carpet, it just makes sense to buy the home if you really love it and make the changes yourself including take down walls if it’s possible. In my case it was. I should add, yes, definitely paint the walls white. Some sellers make changes the buyer won’t like. For instance painting the walls grey or put up tile back splash in the kitchen that’s grey or some ugly color that will go out of style quickly. I prefer to make my own changes so I look for homes that haven’t had those kind of upgrades. It’s easier to negotiate if a home needs those kind of upgrades. Yep, I really don’t like the color grey.😂
I couldn't agree more! You got it! Thank you for your kind words and for watching! I greatly appreciate it!
Exactly! I agree with you. I don’t even bother with neighborhoods I am not interested in living in. I also don’t let paint colors deter me either. That’s an easy cosmetic change. If someone doesn’t what to buy a house because of paint colors, I can bet they are not that interested in buying the house in the first place. I rarely like the colors chosen and have always made changes to my preferred color.
Good video Audra,
My advantage is everything has been up graded and well maintained. The color of my walls will stay because I may not sell because I may not be able to get into another home of the same quality I have now.
I’ve been in construction all my life and what I have beats most of what is on the market today. I may have to accept where I live because at least I have a home and I am 100% grateful for that!
Wow
I’m currently buying a new build in Cali and I’m contingent. You have to be the best realtor youtuber out there. I watched your latest video and this one. Yeah, you are the best
The voice overs were hilarious. Good info 👍
So glad you got a laugh:)
loved your picky buyer voice - that sounds just like what I hear on all the HGTV shows....picky, picky people
ok! I've subscribed and some of my family members as well! I totally wish you the very best to get to 50.000 and more! I enjoy your voice, your information and your enthusiasm to helping all of us. Have yourself a good year and wishing you the very best. I'll be watching!!
Thank you for the kind words and spreading my channel to your family members as well I appreciate that! Glad you enjoy the content!
@@AudraLambert Absolutely! Take care, and I'll be watching!
“Audra!” This is hilarious.😂
glad you enjoyed
As I get older an elevator or master on the first floor is a necessity.
I hear that very often! We are always looking for single level homes here in my area. We don't have enough of them to go around.
Regarding pets, there was one house that we referred to as the cat-urine house. We used a different word, but making it TH-cam friendly. They had replaced the carpeting throughout the vacant house, but the subfloor upstairs must have been saturated too.
Shoot sorry to hear that!
I just went through this with my recently deceased daddy’s rental house I have up for sale.
The previous tenants had a cat.
The house definitely had a cat urine smell.
I tried various different things to get rid of the smell and finally was told to use vinegar and water and wash walls up to 1 ft high .
Finally got rid of the cat odor!!!
Helped to leave windows open all day for 3-4 days too.
Make sure to replace the furnace filter too. 4:31
Hydrogen peroxide is more effective than vinegar to get rid of cat urine odors, just FYI
Painted the whole house white! Extra white, SW. It's a neutral with some blue. All views lead to the blue lagoon pool so I think it works in hot east coast of Florida. It makes the house look bright and bigger. Agents are always saying keep color on the walls and white baseboards... Sure, it's "cozy" but we want clean, bright and inviting. Hope this works!
We didn’t buy a house we loved because it backed up to a campground. We stood in the back yard and the sound of kids screaming was so loud we couldn’t hear each other talk. While we love children, that would have gotten old fast.
Understandable, that's a tough sell!
Welcome to a buyers market!
yeah right
About damn time
Congrats on attracting the big advertisers!
We have big advertisers?!? That's great, I never see them. I only watch from my side with no advertisements, good to know!
Love your videos and the humor with valuable info. Thank you!
Really enjoy your videos. Love your personality. You go girl!
I'm so glad!
Great job again Audra!!😊 I'm learning so much from you...Thank you!! I know you'll meet your subscribers goal soon...😊
Where did the appraisal report come from?
Nailed it! Right on target dealing with Happy Homeowners!
Thank you for watching and kind comment! Much appreciated
Yes, I agree with your gripes from buyers because we were one of them. Our top three criteria from Phoenix were 1. No two story house next-door. 2. Park adjoining the back yard. 3. Deep water pool. We searched for a long time and paid full pride with concessions five years ago. Very happy! We have sufficient cash to perhaps go back to California near Laguna Beach. My question to Audra which is rare: I am 100% Permanent and Total Disabled Veteran. If I purchase a home for an arbitrary $800k price, what will California tax me for property tax? I could not get anyone to call on that topic in any government agency. Just a busy signal or elevator music on hold for hours. Thanks, I hope that is not too hard to answer!
God to florida. NO Property Tax for 100 Vet!
My home was on the market for only 4 days. Priced right, not under priced. It stood out from the others. I got a lot of good ideas and information from your videos. Plus, I have an amazing realtor and team. Thanks for what you do! 🩷
YAY!!! That's so great to hear! Congratulations on the quick sale of your home! I'm happy to hear my advice helped and you had a great realtor & team!
That was a great talk!! And your hair looks fabulous! Thank you for your insight!!
so kind thanks and glad you enjoyed it
Maybe, if a buyer wants new pipes, new appliances, new roof, new windows, open concept, they should just build a new home.
@@cherylanon5791 I agree!
This is the big disconnect; buyers want everything to look like a model home but they want the price to be as low as a home with deferred maintenance, no upgrades and dated styles. Sellers often want to do no major work on the home before selling but to just to reap the rewards of well-maintained, upgraded homes in their same location. Often houses that are not truly comparable in condition, location and amenities are used for the subject property to arrive at a higher list price. There are biases each way.
Maybe, if you want to sell your used house at the price of a new one, you should keep it in good condition.
To Some of the folks on this comment section… agree with this comment. Real estate markets aren’t necessarily about ‘new versus old’. There are many factors that affect decisions of a buyer….location, perhaps school district, work viability, transportation issues, etc. Not apples to oranges. But, if a buyer is looking for something so specific in terms of the ‘House’…they may just not find it all. What seems lost on current buyers is that they perhaps don’t have the ability, or time, or vision, or money…whatever it is….then, stop watching HGTV and get real about the priorities. The market will always be the market. Maybe you are a buyer and suddenly one day, you are (and may HAVE to be) a seller. You either may buy in or sell in the current market -high or low. It doesn’t make you good or bad. Blessings to all!
Too many sellers don’t want to spend money to maintain their homes yet want top dollar when they sell. When you have a high price, people’s expectations are higher.
I love your videos, but I would love to see some advice for new construction and the buyer's agents responsibilities there. Builders' contracts are a lot different from state-promulgated contracts used for resale, typically written in the builder's favor by the builder's attorneys.
Thank you for mentioning Benjamin Moore White Dove as a good white paint color. I wanted to transition to white walls and didn’t know which white. That color has been around for many years and I didn’t know it was still trending.
Tile is SO common in Texas and Florida, and I have lived in both states.
Agreed!! Thanks for watching
@@AudraLambertAlways a pleasure!
Hi Audra, love your channel.
You mentioned cats but we have found that the smell of dogs is very off-putting to us as buyers.
Don't sellers realize that their large dogs smell?
Our house came painted a creamy white. My realtor thanked me for not painting the house all the ‘crazy colors’!
oh good!
Just passed you along to a friend because you are one sharp, clever, funny woman. Maybe one bit closer to your 50,000 goal!
Thanks for your very helpful videos.
Wow, thank you so much! I greatly appreciate your kind words and you doing that!!!
Audra, do You think it would be ok if I just want private showings as opposed to open houses? Id like to avoid non-serious lookie-loos lol I def wont do a lock box. I love all your info. New subscriber here! Wish you were here in FL to sell my home. Realtors (so far) have been horrendous.
welcome to the channel and nice to connect. It's completely up to you and what you are comfortable with. We do only private showings on our listings so we are there representing our clients the way we know best. With that being said on most of our listings we do open houses as well however some clients prefer not to. Sorry to hear about your agents not working out so far.
Let us know if we can help in any way.
@@AudraLambert thank you :)
Its been a rule in real estate for 60 years. Buyers OVER estimate the cost to repair or change when making an offer OR UNDER estimate the value of something that has already been done. IE...kitchen remodel or landscape project.
k, had the plumbing redone throughout, new furnace/ac, windows (pellas). soft water. Swiss coffee already here. But the flooring? it would cost me at least 20k for the entry/hall/kitchen/bath. Office in the main that could be a bedroom. I work from home. kitchen could use an update. I am not better homes and gardens (though the garden? professionally done and beautiful, even a garden bench in the quaint iron fenced veggie garden). But I can't do all this, maam. I'm just too friggin old and here we are. selling. I love your videos but sometimes I think they are not realistic for the average, not million dollar home. Can you please do some for the not advantaged homeowners?
After watching this video, if I was selling my home (I'm not), I would ask my agent to seek out a young family wanting to get into their first home that is willing to accept an updated, well-maintained but almost 50-year old home for what it is. I would be willing to take a lower, fair but not lowball price just to make it a pleasant experience for all involved. And all of those complainers could just go back to watching HGTV from their rented apartments.
Your realtor doesn't typically get to chose who is wanting to see the house. It's all about the people be attracted to your area, but things are a lot more sane in entry level single family homes. They expect to have to make some compromises and do some things on their own. I think Audra is selling to higher end clientele that have a lot more money and options.
This is exactly what I’m hoping for.
As property manager for my 80+ year old daddy’s rental properties these last 7 years , I made many repairs and upgrades.
On the single family home I replaced the HVAC unit in 2023,
Painted the whole house a light tan and replaced the old worn out carpet with vinyl plank flooring in shades of tan, beige& chocolate brown throughout the whole house.
In June of this year I had new roof put on and most recently I had the old, cracked , leaky tub/ shower unit removed and floor under rebuilt and installed new tub/shower unit.
I am replacing a double-paned window that I noticed was broken.
I had a new heat/exhaust fan installed in the bathroom and replaced all the rusty vents in the ceiling.
It has a fenced in backyard and a nice size front yard.
2 BR ,1 bath, Large LR, Kitchen/DR area combined.
I would love to see a young family living there.🙂 5:05
Audra, I have a ranch home that I'm preparing to sell next year and someone put an exterior door in my dining room that has a half moon glass at the top going out to a big porch and I hate it anyway, but especially on the back of the house. I'm thinking frosted full view or clear glass with the blinds built into the glass. Any suggestions?
I love the graphics 😂. Keep up great work.
Thanks...will do!!
I have a 2860 sq ft home. Main flooring is a neutral large square tile) and split plan 4 bedrooms are also tile but wood look in a lighter color. Is this an issue?
We have a 10-year old home and just invested in it for the next 10-years and have no intention of selling. If we were going to sell then we would just need to paint the house white and declutter our personal items.
sounds like you did the right things!
Q: I have painted wood plank floors because they can’t be sanded and stained. Is this a problem? I can freshen them up with a new coat quite easily. PLEASE respond.
Excellent video and well presented!
Do those white colors work for exteriors too? We’re painting our exteriors this winter and want to maximize re-sale.
You go girl!
I appreciate this video. I do not plan on selling in the next 10 years... but I do want to remodel bathroom and kitchen in the next 5 years. Is there any products (no white cabinet kitchen, please) that would hold value and buyer acceptability Ober a longer period of time? I lived with white walls for too many years. When I go to sell, I'll have them repainted white. For now, just materials in bathrooms and kitchens that might not be dated in 10 years.. Yes. I know... you need a crystal ball to predict this. So maybe just your perspective. Thank you from the southwestern metro area in Colorado (think the foothills, small back yard open to a municipal reservoir - private - with 2000 square feet inside, newer hvac and water heater, no carpet on floors, no pets)
I would speak with your accountant and make a plan to avoid paying too much in capital gains tax, I don't want to give out tax advice, not my area of expertise. Thanks for watching!
This TH-cam channel, ‘Mark Tobin Kitchen Design’ is a great resource for kitchen design trends, included dated designs, as well as designs that stand the test of time.
I love the pillow! Where can I find it please?
I think it is all relative
If you sell high, you have to buy high
If you sell low, you buy low
Read the description of the home before you go see it.
And the location…really, please. This is just crazy.
wood floors look good in certain places but i regretted putting in wood instead of just putting in nice carpet. It's a lot louder/echoey with wood, it creates a slip hazard when wet or using the wrong rugs that slip. Wood is a lot harder to fix if there is a problem which does happen like big gouges etc. Carpet section replacements are common, easy, and undetectable. Wood sucks, really good carpet is fine. Did i mention the slip factor?
Off-gassing of carpets?! We pulled up 1800 sq ft of carpet (some of it shag carpet from god knows how long ago (gross)), the debris and stains under it was so disgusting. So, no, thanks. Underneath? Hardwood oak floors which are now immaculate. And, use only environmentally friendly cleaning, so yes. And, it’s not loud…
Slip? We clean up spills, have area rugs that can be easily cleaned, no ‘slips’. Should we have to move, the next owners can do whatever, our area resale values are high for hardwood floors installed, clean, easy maintenance. Win-win.
No, we really are trying to mask the noise. 😂
My #1 priority (besides price ofc) was location. If it was next to a busy road or freeway I wouldn’t even look. I need peace & quiet.
Another excellent video! Thank You for what obviously takes considerable time and effort (and, needless to say, skills) to produce a 5-star product! Young lady, I always enjoy your videos, learn a lot, and find your presentation style terrific. I always watch your videos! You'll flash past 50K soon. I can easily see 500K subscribers. But hand on heart, I sense that, given our changing world, the day is slowly approaching when real estate agents are going the way of the landline. The Internet and AI will bury the concept/need for the industry entirely. End of rant. :>)
Thank you for watching and thank you so much for your kind words! I greatly appreciate it! I hope we don't go out of existence!!!!
@@AudraLambert - Audra, you will earn a loyal following with anything you produce on TH-cam. Your style is terrific! :>)
This sounds like bad communication. The agent and buyer should be talking about what is important to the buyer. That would greatly cut down on touring homes.
Great info!!!
thank you
Anyone complaining that buyers are too picky, this video is intended to let motivated sellers know how buyers think and determine how to best position your home. Your home is an asset that you can either try to get the most money for or be stubborn and have it sit on the market and settle for a lowball offer months down the road. Also having a home on the market is stressful. I like selling quick. A lot less time keeping it model perfect.
Great video i subscribed 😊❤
so glad to hear thank you!
Love your impersonations, and agree that buyers can be ridiculous. On the other hand, sellers have been conditioned to price their homes at top dollar. With high prices come high expectations. Buyers will be a lot more forgiving of paint color if the house is very well priced.
I love your videos!
thank you
Lol. I don’t think I’m quite that whiny. 😂😂 I got no issues if it’s good bones and good basics and they just keep it simple. Lol. I hate having to try and think up what would match what in multiple areas. (Esp tile, flooring etc). Major subpar issues with the innards are a deal breaker, esp if there are no concessions for them. If I have to deal with the latter, it should be reflected in the price. Am I wrong? Asking for too much? I don’t think so. Lol. I also check out and research the area first and foremost (before I proceed-as it’s kind of pointless to find the perfect home in the wrong location), so that is kind of a non issue for me, unless it was some unknown fluke I wasn’t aware of.
Love it, yes! That’s common sense 😊
Would homes selling in the 300-350 sell easier?
Can't a buyer find out who is insuring the house currently and just call that company? If they cover it now,.why should it be denied to someone else?
This night be true in most states, but here in Florida insurers are a bit finicky. Many are not underwriting new policies but won't cancel existing policies. In addition to high property insurance, the property taxes a new buyer pays are based on the purchase price of the house. Our taxes almost doubled the first year after we bought the house from the original owner whose tax base wass obviously much lower.
Love the messy hair, Audra. Mine is grey and not sure I can wear it like that! Hope so!
Your great
Always amazing how many people can’t just paint a room the color they want it themselves. I’ve stripped wallpaper & completely repainted the entire inside of my last 2 houses myself. No one is ever going to have your exact taste so save your money, put in the sweat equity and get a good deal and make it your own. Stark white walls & grey anything will be the first thing I’m repainting or redoing. Why would I pay a premium for someone else’s tastes👎🏼Don’t even get me started on all these grey floors people install before they sell😵
Masters has popcorn ceiling. Should I remove it?
@@ComebackRunner yes!
Depending on the age of the house, it could have asbestos. Get it tested first.
I’m going to paint my downstairs white dove !
Love it!!!
I am presenting considering White Dove and Steam.
Well goodness I would think that as far as the location is concerned they did their homework or should why would you even put anyone your realtor anybody they're going to physically see a property that you know you have location issues with Lord have mercy
I couldn't agree more!!!
@@AudraLambert Thank you, Audra, please, is it permissable to ask that the broker be present with our agent, if hopefully when, we close on the sale of our house(the agent has made innumerable missteps handling sale of our house) my husband would not let me vet properly like you suggested, now here we are 😳😭
Keep in mind that Good School Scores come from two groups: PTO Moms who cheerlead the scores (resulting in good scores) and Grumpy Parents with a Grievance (resulting in poor scores).
that can be true but people do look at the scores nonetheless sometimes
People are never happy. We are CONSTANTLY trying to stay “updated” but then, a short while after, oh, no, everything looks dated. We’re always chasing trends and then regretting that it’s too trendy. WTF. Unplug, people.
White walls remind me of a college apartment. Or, really, any apartment building. Doesn’t flatter most furniture, especially today's whitewash or chalk paint styles.
that may be true however most buyers today are wanting white
While getting ready to sell, it would have been a lot easier for me if the interior walls were white. We hadn't ever planned to leave there and I had painted much of the interior in earth tones that felt comfortable to me. The "paint matched" paints to touch up didn't match well (mainly too much shine) and I spent far too much time trying to match & feather in, eventually giving up although I was continually aggravated every time I saw the less-than-perfect finishes. It would have been a lot faster to hire painters to repaint it all white or off-white, since we already had to our things out in order to replace flooring. Luckily it was an entry-level home with fairly new big-ticket systems in a community where homes in that price bracket & in good repair don't come up often. The one room that was still white was easiest to get ready, just clean the walls and fill nail holes. 😄
If I hear "Open Floor Plan" one more time... OMG. Go buy a warehouse! People have been building houses for eons. Do builders really think no one had thought of this before? There is a reason for dedicated rooms. No one wants to walk into your house and smell the dinner you had a few hours ago or see dirty dishes.
Open concept 🤢 Thanks Audra, great video 😊
It’s called Angry August. People are grumpy, I see it in the tourists while working in a tourism area. You’d think they’d be happy being on vacay. NOT, they’re grumpier than heck, waited too long for a vacay, getting the kids back to school, the kids are making the parents grumpy, it’s hot , etc etc etc… we are very glad to see the month of August move along. We can make it fine without these types. These gripes you’re illuminating have a familiar tone.
I knew eventually buyers would wake up and start looking at the quality of the home instead of the pretty cosmetic band aid.
it's happening
Neighbours have budgies squawking all day long outside hanging in their tree. Little kids screaming and crying and throwing temper tantrums, hoarder with lots of garbage and junk and messy yard, loud partier neighbours, this surrounds me and I am glad I will be listing in February and it will be snow covered and quiet.
Sounds like you have a very strategic plan! Good luck in February!
Do you live in my house?
Subscribed while ago for your insights and directness. Took your advice in making necessary renovations (neutral color, value priced materials, fit neighborhood) and very happy with results. Thanks! Question: do I put $ into basement? (Was finished but badly, so ripped out everything to cinder blocks. Could use a home office and guest room. Not ready to move for couple years. But contractors estimates $100,000+) How do I decide if it’s worth the $ or just sell for lower price in neighborhood where homes all with finished basement?
A good real estate agent in your area will be able to answer that for you. I am in process of selling my home and my agent ruled out the things I wouldn't see ROI in.
If white walls bother you, rethink it. What color are the walls in art museums? White. To show off the art. Buy some art that is meaningful to you and enjoy your unique home that really reflects you.
agreed good point
Support beams blah blah blah...i will try that on my next county home inspector. I always used "building code , building smode. Whats the difference 😂
almost there Audra,,,
getting there!
Thnx❤, you soooo funny 😂