Say it Up Front? – Or Wait Until They Ask?

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In other businesses that I have managed, my clients always appreciated having their expectations managed, therefore, I was always a proponent of giving information up front to save them time and limit disappointment.
With real estate, I see very successful listing agents who list properties with ambiguity or fantasy over plain old truth…not all realtors – some say it like it is….needs TLC etc…
Take this one:
Listing Agent Language: “Once part of the Dunellen Hall Estate – offered for the first time in 30 years”
Buyer Agent Language: Before the Queen of Mean aka Leona Helmsley owned the property historically known as Dunellen Hall, the equestrian parcel was part of the estate. Unique property translates to: unique buyer – exit strategy will be equally challenging.

NORTH OF THE MERRITT BETWEEN ROUND HILL AND LAKE
SHARED GOLDEN POND
Listing Agent Language: 8+ Pastoral Acres with Riparian Rights 

Buyer Agent Language: Paying taxes on 8+ acres with 1/3 of it in the drink, that is also accessed by 6 of your neighbors

BUILT IN 1735 – RENOVATED IN 1998
Listing Agent Language: Colonial Home with gourmet kitchen. 4 Bedrooms

Buyer Agent Language: Really Old House – last renovated in 1998 – claims to have a gourmet kitchen, but the listing agent has chosen not to photograph it. 4 Bedrooms within 1654 SF

MORE MOSS THAN SHINGLE
Listing Agent Language: Equestrian Barn

Buyer Agent Language: Horse Barn the desperately needs a new roof

A more direct way to communicate this listing is to say it like it is. 8+ acres of country living.  Unique horse property on Topping Lake with original barn, stable and country home.
For the nostalgic, restoration may be your path – and for the less sentimental buyer, FAR is XYZ – listing broker doesn’t mention what this may be, althouhg he has it listed for both residential and land….there are setbacks and obviously wetlands to consider, so too much homework that he should have done already….in my opinion.

Contracts Today

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12 Cross last sold for $600K in 2007 – Pemberwick – reports a contract today

469 Taconic – all the way out there at the border of Stamford – started at $1,895,000 in July last year…has a newish kitchen, but otherwise a farmhouse… 1.95 acres in 1 acre zoning. Seller bought it in 1998 for $765,000

132 CEDAR CLIFF RD – RIVERSIDE



132 Cedar Hill Rd – is a restored carriage house with water views in Riverside, built in 1870 – nearly 6000SF on .73 acres. 183 days on market, it started at $5,200,000 in 2011 to it’s current list price of $3,750,000.

217 Taconic Road Sold Yesterday – $13M – New to Market is #309 Taconic $13,750,000

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217 TACONIC RD – GREENWICH – $13M

Massive house with quality workmanship and materials….I really liked this house, and I’m amazed that it sold for this amount, given that it is also inclusive of 11 beautiful acres. It also has a horse barn and the pool below has a beautiful pool house. It began its long market journey in 2007 for $24,000,000.

217 TACONIC POOL AND HOUSE – RIDING RING

No doubt that this had something to do with the pricing of 309 TACONIC ROAD – GREENWICH

NEW TO MARKET – 309 TACONIC ROAD – $13, 750,000
This is 4000 SF smaller, but nearly 10 more acres. Indoor pool, wine cellar, theater, 7 car garage…different features than 217.

It does have the same type of over pricing long history, and this time it’s seriously  priced to sell.
It’s a new year for the high end market – last year, this property expired at $9,750,000 but succeeded in leasing it for $30,000/mo. 217 Taconic by comparison only rented at the high of $24,500/month