'I want to show my house in its best possible light, to avoid giving you a reason to reject it, but still you turn your nose up'
I spend hours cleaning and tidying my house, stuffing belongings into cupboards, drawers and blanket boxes in preparation for your visit. My children are sent off to the grandparents in case they are too noisy, and the dog is concealed with the neighbours in case you are allergic.
I want to show my house in its best possible light, to avoid giving you a reason to reject it, but still you turn your nose up because it's too small, cluttered, close to the petrol station or road. As the days turn into weeks, it is difficult not to take your first impressions personally. I remain neutral when you criticise my decor, judge my style of kitchen and evaluate my level of cleanliness because you cannot look past it. You have no vision as to how my house might look once you've created your own style, and so you reject it.
Chances are that you are not even on the housing market – you just want to have a good nose around. If you are interested, you try to knock me down on price, asking me when the boiler was last replaced or if there's a preservation order on the orchard – anything to reduce the price by a few thousand.
I try to be polite, knowing it's the best chance I have to sell my property. I like to think I'd be more considerate when it comes to my turn to buy. Until then, a word of warning: don't be too greedy. If we do exchange, I may not leave the house as you'd hope or expect. At the very least I'll be taking all the light bulbs.
• Tell us what you're really thinking at mind@theguardian.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment