Dysfunctional Reality

Dysfunctional-RealitySo terribly many times I have cautioned buyers—especially the first time buyers, about making extensive improvements to homes they purchase. Too many times I have seen unfortunate end results of homes coming back on the market one or two years later that have been altered to a point of non-recognition. Last month, I showed a home that was on the market about five years ago. At the time, it had a standard floor plan and needed a kitchen and bath update as well as floor coverings and paint. When I showed it, I noticed that the current owner attempted to update the kitchen and bath as well as floor coverings and woodwork. Everywhere I looked, I could see inferior workmanship. It was one of those times the more you see wrong, the more you look for wrong.

Today I showed a home that the owner had attempted to make major alterations on the floor plan. Thousands of dollars were spent on upgrades, but nothing that was started was finished. I remember that home as well when it was last on the market. It was just a standard home for its age. I will likely continue to tell buyers until the very end of my career that whenever they plan a major project in their new home, they absolutely MUST work at starting and completing ONE room at a time. If not, it is highly likely that burn-out will take hold and they will continue to live in a dysfunctional home for months and months and sooner or later poorly finish it, or just move out and let the bank have it back if there is a substantial mortgage on it. I empathize with those people whose wonderful dreams grew into living nightmares. I can’t even imagine how marriages stay together as well as children living in such chaos. The upkeep on a home that is in liveable condition is work enough, but can you imagine attempting to maintain a home that is under long-term re-construction?

I’ll never forget the multiple years I drove past a home that appeared to be in a constant state of metamorphosis. I knew it was a family that lived there with children. One day while driving past the home, I realized that I hadn’t seen children or activity around the house for months. When I got back to my office, I called a person who knew them and I was informed that they divorced some months earlier. The husband was left living in the house. I’m convinced that after a long period of time, the occupants either walk away or accept their dysfunctional reality as their new way of life.

Joe Chodur

About the Author | Joe Chodur

First of all....Joe Chodur really doesn't like talking about himself but this is what we have found out about him. Joe Chodur began his real estate career in 1981 during the height of the savings and loan crisis. It's hard to imagine how difficult it was to sell homes when…

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