Over the last couple months I've been walking through local neighborhoods in the evenings after work, and I've seen numerous listed properties. The thing being, sign out front and all they look rough; bushes untrimmed, weeds in the beds, lawns un-mowed. You can certainly tell that no one's caring for it while it's on the market. This got me to thinking that I would like to take my lawn equipment and shape these properties up for the realtors (obviously for a fee).

Is this feasible? Are they in their current condition because the agents/sellers don't want to spend the money on it, or because this niche' is going unfulfilled? Would I contact the individual agent(s) listing it or their RE company itself? Does anyone have prior experience with this, either being employed as such, or employing these services? Is it conventional to let the property grow up a bit while its on the market? Thanks!

We get phone calls all the time by people thinking we are going to pay for the upkeep of a listed property. The truth is, the upkeep is the responsibility of the owner/seller the majority of the time. If it is REO, then the agent may be taking bids from licensed & insured lawn care companies.

If I took care of the lawns on one property, then I should do it for all. If I took care of one property's broken window, then I should do it for all . . . . same thing for leaking faucets, replacing burnt out light bulbs, patch leaking roofs, cut broken tree limbs, cover peeling paint. Maybe I should service their mortgage as well ?

Last year we had some people from New Jersey who truly thought that when we listed their Vermont Property, that they could wash their hands of all those piddley maintenance tasks that come with having a 2nd home and are oh so troubling. NO !

That's not my responsibility. And I don't discriminate. If I wanted to start doing property maintenance, I wouldn't need a Real Estate License.

A Broker Friend of mine recently took a window out to replace a glazing, just to facilitate a Closing the next day. He removed the sash and took measurements and then went to have a pane of glass cut. He set the sash aside next to the house for the short period of time that he was gone.

Unfortunately, the trash collection company came by while he was at the hardware store, and they threw the sash onto the trash truck, thinking that it was being discarded. So then my Friend had to order an entire new window. He won't do that again.

It's either the "Law of un-intended Consequences", or is it

"No Good Deed ever goes Unpunished ?"

Anyway, I don't cut other people's lawns, or trim their hedges. I'm not being mean, or withholding good deeds. I'm too busy feeding the poor . . . . Me !

I think it depends on the property and the situation. If the house is being shown I would get the grass cut to prevent prospective property owners from wading through grass, and if a cleaning weas required to make a sale, I could see me making sure that was done as well. I certainnly would not be responsible for ongoing maintenance, but if some things were required to ensure a listing was sen in its best light, then my job is to sell and i would be willing to do so.
Jeremy Moore,
Sales Representative
CENTURY 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage*
Direct 705-931-0893
Office 705-743-4444
Email: jeremy.moore@century21.ca
Web: www.jeremy-moore.com
http://www.century21.ca/jeremy.moore
*Independently owned and operated. Not intended to solicit those currently under contact.

I think it's a shame the owners aren't smart enough to realize that tall grass and weeds matter.