The Ugliest House in Seattle

September 28, 2007 by Redfin Blogger

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Open house this weekend:
Saturday, Sept. 29, 10:30-2:30pm & Sunday, Sept. 30, 12-4pm
1534 Cherrylane Pl S #201
Seattle, WA 98144

Recent posts on Sweet Digs Seattle:
Open House: A Nice House in Des Moines for Under $300,000
Open House: Grand House, Grand Remodel in Leschi
Open House: Spacious Condo in Kirkland for $539,500
Extreme Makeover in Kirkland

From the curb, it appeals to no one. It has a face only a mother could love. An unkempt mess amongst the cute and cared for. It’s the most hideous house on the street and the smart buyer should run toward it not away. One strategy used by many successful real estate investors is to buy the dumpiest house on the block, give it some love, then sell and make a killing. If you have the vision, patience and time, you can turn that ugly duckling into a swan by spring. Here are some tips on buying the ugliest home on the street from EDGE Boston:

Don’t judge a book by its cover
Many houses that don’t look good on the surface only need a simple makeover in order to make them sparkle

Use building inspectors and contractors to help evaluate properties
Sometimes the house listed as a “handyman special” is the best value on the street, and contractors can help you crunch the numbers to make sure.

Study the data, tour lots of homes, and be patient
When shopping for bargains it helps to shop ’til you drop – the more houses you look at, the more chances you have of finding what you want.

Buy in the off season
Winter is an ideal time to make an offer on those houses that look drab and dreary but have underlying beauty. Sellers will be more willing to negotiate and there will be less competition from other buyers.

And now for the fun – which house is the ugliest in Seattle and currently on the market? Or should I say, which house is the diamond in the rough? The best deal? The overlooked and unadored? Here are a few nominations, add your own in the comments section…

1529 Sturgus Ave S
Seattle, WA 98144
On Redfin: 85 days

2258 15th Ave W
Seattle, WA 98119
On Redfin: 182 days

6059 4th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115
On Redfin: 52 days

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