Several years ago the house I grew up in was for sale. Hubbylifetime and I went to the open house just so I could see it again. It was sort of depressing. My dad was quite the handyman and had done so much to that house. Almost all of his work was gone. In addition, the house shrank! It was much, much bigger when I lived there, LOL. //ltv
Posted by: ML
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 22:27:15 2008
Message:
Nope.
I must admit, I was a little bugged when I heard that my grandparent's house was remodeled in the front. I just never went past it again...not tough, because it's not that close to here, and there's no reason for me to be in their neighborhood. But I think it's really presumptuous to think that a new owner wouldn't change THEIR purchase. And taste is very individual. As long as the owner likes it, it's all good...
Posted by: cgeminime2
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 21:40:37 2008
Message:
I cried when I drove past the house I grew up in, simply because the a$$holes were not taking care of the yard. I went into fits of rage when I saw they had crap laying on the side of the house...my Dad would have never allowed that.
Posted by: LISA K
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 21:15:46 2008
Message:
Yes, it annoys me. My old house looks like S H I $ and it pisses me off! Also they never close the front gate and that pisses me off too.
Sometimes it bothers me for my clients too. For example, I sold this one
and the new people are making it really modern in there and that annoys me PLUS they are making the 4 bedroom house into a 3 bedrm house and that is a mistake!
Then I went to a walk through * it's closing tomorrow* at a co op and the buyer was being all bitchy about what she was going to dol.
Call me crazy--- I don't mind if it's done well but for some reason every buyer feels they have to rip apart the old owners.
Replies: (list all replies)
Our realtor told us that right after we bought our house she began working with a young couple and showing them houses in the same old, historic neighborhoods where we had been looking. The homes were built in the 1920s and '30s in the Georgian, Tudor, and other traditional styles. Our friend said that at every house she showed them, the wife kept talking about tearing down walls to ''open up'' the floor plan and gutting the kitchens to put in something very contemporary and urban-looking. They were apparently into the sleek, ultra-modern style of decor. Our friend said she cringed every time the wife spoke about taking out arched doorways and leaded glass built-ins and actually crossed her fingers that in the end they wouldn't buy in those neighborhoods. I asked her why the couple wasn't looking at new houses or lofts and she said she never got a straight answer when she asked them that same question. ~i&b
I know! That's what I felt like with these people. I cringe when I drive by and see the dumpster. The owners * the sellers* had restored everything and the wife was so proud. She wanted to give the buyers photos of all the before and afters and I knew their reaction would hurt her so I offered to give the pics to them. When I did they literally tossed them on the table and didn't give a rats ass. On the flip side I just closed another older home like that one that had been stripped of almost all the details and was very devoid of life. The new buyers have 5 kids and the mom is awesome. I just drove by it this moring and her flowers are planted and her flag is out, she has furniture on the porch and it makes me so happy!~ LISA K
Posted by: Jennifer
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 21:10:10 2008
Message:
I occasionally drive past the house I lived in during high school. My parents moved to another state right after I graduated, but I stayed in the area because I was engaged. I have a lot of memories from that house, and I'm not sure how I'd feel if I saw changes they'd made inside. I was annoyed that they let the flower garden my mom spent a LOT of time on go to hell, but that's their choice, they own the house now. I imagine they've made some changes because it was a fairly old house (built 1954) and was in need of updating, particularly the carpet downstairs.
I wouldn't want to go in because I prefer to remember it the way it was when I lived in it. I have thought about how I might want to purchase it if it became available when I later decide to purchase a house. I loved that house.
Posted by: ingyandbert
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 21:07:24 2008
Message:
I've seen that show and, frankly, some of those houses really need the updating. As far as houses I've sold, I don't mind the new owners making changes to the decor or whatever. I'm more concerned that they do the necessary maintenance not to let the house go downhill. As long as that happens, I'm happy. Earlier this year, we visited our old next door neighbors in Georgia and obviously got a look at our former home. We were pleased to see the new owner has kept up both the front and back landscapes nicely. Our neighbors told us he took our advice and hired a landscape service to do it for him. That yard is very high maintenance and if you're not into gardening (which we were but he isn't) it would be too much to keep up with. It looked exactly the same as when we lived there.
Posted by: Boo
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 21:04:07 2008
Message:
If I cared after our houses had sold, I would have died of a broken heart a long, long time ago. The only thing I really care about is that once the paperwork is signed that the money is deposited in my account!
Posted by: Lisa P
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 20:53:17 2008
Message:
I could care a less. A home is a personal thing and everyone is different.
I do see some people get upset though. I had a lady I knew that was upset that the new owners ripped out the brand new carpet she put in and put down hardwood floors instead.
Posted by: lifetimeviewer
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 20:51:15 2008
Message:
I'm usually curious as to what "improvements" or changes new owners have made but I can't imagine being upset by any of them.
The woman who bought the last house we lived in killed herself in it. Now that bothered me! Besides the obvious shock (she was in her very early 30s and left a two year old behind), until that time it had been a home filled with warmth and love and we had many happy memories of that house.
Posted by: Tess
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 20:50:36 2008
Message:
I don't care if they change it but I do not ever return (or want to return) to see what they have done with it. It would bother me. I like that show, but I don't understand why the people ever buy the houses that they buy. They make so many drastic changes as soon as they move in and always mention how much they hate their new home's kitchen, bathroom, everything. I can't understand why they even bought the house because they end up changing everything about it.
Posted by: Cettie
Date posted: Sun Jun 22 20:43:43 2008
Message:
I have a house for sale right now. My dad passed away 2 years ago and it still hasn't sold. I have heavy feelings about selling it but I have married and settled elsewhere now and renters are a nightmare. I'm the third generation to have the house which was purchased by my grandfather in 1919,my mom, aunt and uncle were born in the house and it will be hard to say goodbye, especially since it's likely that the house would be torn down once it's sold. (The lot is wonderful and the neighborhood got fancy but my house is modest.)
Replies: (list all replies)
My sister is in the same situation (minus the tearing down) with her house. We grew up in that house and it's been in our family even longer than yours has been in your family. But the house is in a small town and none of the younger generation wants to live there. My sister is an empty nester and is tired of the upkeep so the house is on the market. I hate the thought of it leaving the family after almost 100 years but I can't blame her for wanting to downsize. Good luck with selling your house. ~i&b
