On Wed, 16 May 2007 09:20:28 -0700, "RJ"
wrote:


I don't understand this modern approach to homebuying.
Buyers demand "showroom perfect" in the house,
down to the room colors of their choice.

I've seen folks turn down a $150,000 purchase
because it needed a $200 water heater.

Whatever happened to buying a home "as is"
Assuming it's the right neighborhood, the right price,
and there's no major structural problems.....

We always bought a home knowing we'd be painting,
landscaping, and doing some maintenance.


I don't think it's the buyers that started
the change. I think its that the sellers
started making the mistake of taking the
realtor's advice too seriously. And the
realtor doesn't care if it costs you $3,000
raise the price of the house by $1,000 and
sell it to the third buyer instead of the 9th.

And as long as a significant fraction of
home-sellers are willing to cater to the
slightest dumb-ass whim of the "average"
buyer, that's what said buyer is going to
ask for.