The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Sacramento Home Sales

An outdated kitchen can make it unlikely to sell at the top of the comps for Sacramento home sales.

In my real estate practice of Sacramento home sales, I draw upon my 40-some years in the business when I advise my clients. Experience pays off. My sellers know I will share all aspects of the home sales process with them, and not just say what they want to hear. Of course, every seller loves to listen to praise, they want to hear their home is beautiful, but they absolutely need to know the downside, too.

I’ve heard of some Realtors who spend a lot of time criticizing a home, and what that kind of approach accomplishes, even if the criticism is deserving and true, is cause the seller’s heart to slip into her stomach. Often, sellers are suspicious of agents anyway. They know there are agents they can’t trust — just like there are people in all walks of every profession who are untrustworthy. But they especially mistrust the motives of an agent who can find nothing but bad things to say about their home.

Don’t blame them, either. I wouldn’t appreciate that kind of interplay. Just like I look for the silver linings in the worst situations, I can find positives in anything. Doesn’t matter if the home is leaning to one side, about to cave over, I will find something good to say about it. Like, perhaps the color is bright and cheery. Or maybe the angle lets in more light or air. Plus, it’s likely to be priced within the comps of nearby Sacramento home sales to a place where the lean-to is immaterial.

In the photograph above, I can see many things that are wrong with this kitchen. The cabinets are older, worn and lack hardware (pulls); the appliances are a horrifying white (which buyers hate) and they are mismatched, plus the stove is electric and not gas. There is no effective backsplash. The overhead lighting is not contemporary, and the flooring appears to be vinyl. Colorless walls, too. And let’s not even talk about the fact the refrigerator, which usually does not convey as personal property, supports an upper freezer (not bottom), and that triangle thing — stove, sink and ‘frig — is not working in this space.

On the upside, the kitchen is immaculate. It is perfectly functional the way it is, and all of the appliances are operable. The colors are light, which makes the kitchen appear much larger. The granite-appearing counters are not tile nor laminate, thank goodness, for purposes of this illustration the counters are granite with detailed edging, and they are a darker color so they won’t show marks or dirt. On top of which, the darker color of the granite provides contrast to the rest of the kitchen.

Look at that oversized window, too. It’s dual pane (yay) and runs the entire length of the sink, plus it appears to offer enough room to grow potted plants, which lend a nice touch to the ambience. The view is semi-private and the tree can provide a nest for birds, which means when you rinse dishes in the sink, your eyes can rest upon the delightful sight of frolicking birds, transporting a person away from the mundane existence of her miserable life. JK about that last part.

I share the good, the bad and the ugly with my home sellers. My practice is to downplay the negatives and play up the attractive points. Plus, if I shot this photo, I would remove the edge of the refrigerator; it’s distracting. I would not shoot the opposing wall because it makes the space appear smaller than it is. And I would stage the counters with more appropriate items to draw the eye toward the granite and away from the cabinets.

If you’re interested in knowing more about Sacramento home sales and want to hire a top Sacramento Realtor, please call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759.