American Beauty In Bethesda

This was a post from a few months ago that I forgot to post for one of my favorite contributors….

So do most of you remember American Beauty?  If you don’t or didn’t see it, don’t worry, this post is still for you!  Okay…so Annette Bening’s character, “Carolyn”, I am definitely NOT.  But, this week I had flashbacks to her real estate agent character in the film “American Beauty.”  I actually didn’t like the film..too dark for me…and I thought that Annette was WAY over the top in her characterization….and, you’ll be very pleased to know, I didn’t strip down to a black slip to scrub…but I did spend a lot of time this week cleaning someone else’s house.

I should know better.  I’ve been in this business for over twenty years and have helped train dozens of new agents.  There’s probably not a one of them who hasn’t heard me say, “When you care more than your client, then things probably aren’t going to turn out well.”  But, I did spend a lot of time this week cleaning someone else’ house.

I’d like to believe that it’s not that they don’t care…it’s just that they don’t “get it.”  But how can they not?  Aren’t they reading the same headlines I’m reading?  Aren’t they looking at the same 401K statements that I’m looking at?   Don’t they know that this is a buyer’s market and that houses (good houses…very good houses) are sitting?  And, there I was…spending a lot of time cleaning their house.

They had painters and landscapers on the outside (that’s a good thing…I’m not complaining), but they decided that once they lured people in, it would be okay if the inside didn’t shine as well.  So, not only did I spend a lot of time cleaning…I also brought over carloads full of artwork and “staging” materials to complement this partially furnished, vacant house.  It helped…but a good coat of interior paint would have helped more.

Tomorrow I’ll be at the Open House.  I’m hoping to run into some potential buyers.  But, just in case no one shows up, I’ll probably bring more cleaning supplies to keep myself occupied…I won’t strip down to my slip…

Contributing blogger, Gretchen Koitz – Specializing in Bethesda Real Estate, Chevy Chase Homes, & for some DC flair, Georgetown DC Real Estate

Tagged as: Bethesda Real Estate, Commentary