jmcquown wrote:
> For some reason my middle brother thinks before we can sell this house
> we need to buy a new refrigerator.
>
> I don't think it's necessary to provide a refrigerator when you're
> selling a house. Just an FYI, this is pretty much a place where
> retirees move. It's not like some 20-somethings (who have absolutely
> nothing to their name) are going to buy the house. People who move here
> are pretty well set and they probably have their own appliances. It's
> not outside the realm of possiblity to throw in the washer and dryer and
> even the fridge when we sell the house. But I don't think we should
> have to provide one. What are your thoughts?
>
> Jill


I agree. If the fridge is less than 20 years old, I'd leave it and
agree to replace it only if it was a deal closer to a serious buyer.

FWIW, when my late inlaws (second marriage for both) died off, his son
insisted we had to spend $10-15K having all the wallpaper stripped in
their beautiful traditional CT Valley colonial home and paint everything
white because his friend, a realtor, said so. I maintained that anyone
looking at that house in that neighborhood wouldn't be put off by very
classic wallpaper. The house sold in less than a week with the original
wallpaper, to a couple who pretty much gutted the place (including the
original custom kitchen cabinets) and redid it to THEIR taste, which
included dark wallpaper and dark paint. It would have been a complete
waste to have covered everything in white.

The same goes for carpeting. If you must, include a carpeting allowance
to sweeten the deal, but for goodness sake don't re-carpet unless the
old carpet is badly trashed. Carpet color is a very individual choice.

Good luck in selling the house. Retirement and recreation areas don't
seem to be feeling the housing pinch like both modest homes and
McMansions are. They are still selling $12m condos in Vail. SLowly,
but surely.

gloria p