How To Sell

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Expert, localized Los Angeles answers provided by Heather Roy

How To Sell
	Dear Edith: I have been living in my childhood home off and on since the 70s. Now my husband and I are ready to get a little land and build a small prefab cabin. My daughter is grown and still living at home with all her college junk. My three dogs and two cats have their own doggie doors and they come and go all during the day while we're gone. Chinese Pugs are very sensitive to heat and cold and can't stay out all the time. My question is, when I put the house on the market how in the world can an agent ever show it? I can't put the dogs in the yard the entire time and I can't come home from work every time they show the house to keep the dogs outside. One is a large rescue dog and very aggressive. Also, the house is 30-plus years old and the master bath needs new tile, very mildewed. The kitchen has new tile floor but the countertops and cabinets and stove are ancient. I don't even want to talk with an agent because I know the dogs will be a huge issue and I want to sell "as-is". Could you please help me with some suggestions, if you can think of any in this quite hopeless situation?

	It is perfectly possible to restrict showings of the property to the hours when you are home and able to deal with the dogs. Your best bet is to call two or three different brokerages that are active in your area (look at nearby 'for sale' signs) and ask each one to send an agent over. They can give you advice about getting your home ready for the market, and should have ideas about how to show it. You won't have any cost or obligation until you pick the agent you want to work with.
	Edith Originally published on August 28, 2005

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