It is a well known fact that part of the job description for any real estate agent is, psychiatric counselor. Among the more stressful things a person or family can experience is moving, and the process of selling can be difficult.

Are you thinking about selling a home?  Here are a few thoughts you might consider.

Do you smoke?  If you do there is a strong possibility that your home smells of tobacco smoke, an aroma that many people consider to be offensive.  Like someone buying a used car, if it has been previously owned by a smoker, that car will have fewer potential buyers.  If you want to sell your home to the broadest range of potential buyers, stop smoking inside, air it out, have the carpets cleaned, do anything necessary to get rid of the tobacco odor.  But try telling that to a client who smokes.  Nicotine addiction rules so when I recently informed a potential selling client that the odor from his smoking could put off a good number of potential buyers…well, three Marlborough Lights later, he had made no comment about that revelation.

Years ago I lived in Boston.  At that time an area of town called The South End, was exactly what The Marigny and The Bywater are to New Orleans today.  They had a recent past history of neighborhood decay, followed by a great deal of renovation attracting young professionals, artists, and cool individuals of any age.  The history of The Marigny and Bywater is all about neighborhood, at one time a significant number of Germans lived in that area.  But the real interest is not so much in its history, but rather in its present, and future.  The Marigny has a longer run of renaissance, and some folks in the Marigny look down upon the Johnny come lately Bywater.  That’s just real estate snobbery as far as I am concerned because both have a great deal in common and share the same appeal.