"Don't Put lipstick on a pig"

What I saw yesterday when I previewed a condo listed for sale.......

• 

I walked into an open house yesterday, and within seconds, I knew something wasn't right.

The condo was beautifully staged. It was clean, had a beautiful view, and looked fantastic.

But there was a very strong, musty odor.

I walked into the laundry room and a closet—and I saw significant water stains on the walls.

Now, I'm not going to tell you the address or name the agent. This isn't about calling someone out.

I

It's about something I've learned in more than 20 years in real estate:

You can't put lipstick on a pig and expect buyers not to notice the problem.

Staging is wonderful. Professional photography is important. But neither one can fix an underlying property issue.

If there are visible signs of water intrusion and a strong musty odor, it must be proffessionally repaired before you put the property on the market.

Because buyers notice.

They walk in, they smell it, they see the stains—and then walk away.

Now you, the seller, are accumulating days on the market; this is going to cost you far more than addressing the problem upfront.

My job as the listing agent is not just to make the property look good. It must be saleable to get you the best offer for your property.

I hated seeing this - it tarnishes the reputation of our profession, and it's a disservice to a seller.