Betsie Melter's Real Estate Blog

Seriously, though, that is what I said as I was laughing while showing a foreclosure to clients today. The previous owners had stripped everything from the house. The floor, the doors, the door jams, the entire kitchen (including the plumbing in the walls, cabinets, sinks) even the kitchen island. They took baseboards, faucets, lights, fans, Pool equipment, A/C units, and even the trees. That's right they took the trees out of the ground. That's when I said "I feel like I am in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" because there wasn't even a crumb for a mouse.

I see homes every day, and I see how people live and how they leave a home and I just feel bad for people. But really, do you have to strip the house? I know when someone gets foreclosed on they are mad at the bank. But when they strip the house, it isn't punishing the bank. It punishes the new buyer (who will have to fix it in order to make it livable), the agents who have to either try to sell it or help the buyer buy it with a rehab loan (which aren't easy these days) and the neighbors who have to live with a vacant, torn apart house next to them. So, really you are punishing everyone but the bank. Most of us are hard working people who care about our neighborhoods. Did you really mean to hurt your neighbor Bill by having his property values decrease by 40%? Think about who you are really hurting before you strip the house.

Last week a man was arrested for "stealing and vandalism" when caught taking items our of the house he had just foreclosed on. He was caught because he had actually hired workers to remove the A/C unit and the water heater. Think about that, he spent money on removing items. That is one angry person. But good for the bank for pressing charges. In my opinion, you shouldn't be allowed to take what isn't yours anymore. I know this has been going on for years, but let's try to do what is right. Leave the house the way you found it; Intact and livable.

To see the video of the house go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kRnXsCnRqQ