What to do with tank when selling house

[Tazmaniancowboy]

I will be selling my house in the next three months. I want to put it on the market now, but I'm not sure what I should do about my tank. The tank is a 120 and is plumbed through the floor and I had the living room carpeted around it. What would you do? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has come across this. I'm not afraid to leave the tank with the house, but not everybody wants a tank like us and most do not understand the basement sump concept.

Please let me know your experiences and thoughts about this. I do not know what to do.

Taz

PS Mods: Feel free to move this if you feel it needs to be. It is reef related, but I understand. I thought I'd get more views and replies here

 

[MikeNapoli]

You should hire a company now to maintain your tank. Factor it in as a home expense. Use it as a selling feature. Have the person buying the house know that you have a company that maintains it and they wouldn't have to do any work.

ARM is a new sponsor for the club and they are in Keyport. Get a quote from them. If the people buying your house see that the expense is only $100-$200 per month then they might want to keep the tank for themselves.

Another approuch would be to start breaking it down and sell everything before you put the house on the market. Fix the holes that the plumbing went through.

 

[reefsandrotts]

You could goto home depot while they are on sale and buy a electric fireplace to fill in the area.

 

[mikem]

I would leave it in as an option. Tell the new owners that you'll stop by to teach them how to maintain the tank. Give them an App. to NJRC for any further assistance.
If they don't want the tank and do want the house, use their deposit to replace the carpets and give them their choice of colors.

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

MikeNapoli, I really like the Idea, never thought about that. If I had a more upscale house I would definitely do that, Can't see it in my cape cod house though. If I don't let the tank go with the house, It's coming with me!

reefsandrotts That was one of my thoughts. I left the tank there when we were carpeting because I didn't want to break it down. I told my wife at that time that if we sold, I'd take the tank out and put ceramic tile in it's place to put a fake fireplace or an entertainment center on. I haven't ruled this option out.

MikeM I like your idea also, but I am afraid that the tank may distract buyers. The living room is small enough. When you walk in the house it basically slaps you in the face and says look at me! LOL ;D By taking it out the room will look much larger.


Decisions, decisions. Thanks guys I like these recommendations. Keep them coming so I can make up my mind. I have to move!

Taz

 

[Hawkeye]

If it were me I'd remove all the stuff and then have it staged and have an open house. In this market unless you are really under-pricing the comps in the neighborhood any little thing (like a tank) may just put you to the back of the list for potential home buyers. Even if you do happen to find another reefer - there's no guarantee that individual wants a 120. They could be looking for a nano - or a tank divider etc. You're basically reducing the number of potential buyers by keeping it there in my opinion.

 

[Candi]

Your main goal I'm assuming is selling the house, so your best bet is to get the tank out of the room...especially if it's taking up as much room as you say. If you plan to keep it and the contents then as much of a PIA as it will be relocate the whole thing to the basement while the house is on the market, or sell off the livestock and store the tank. As for the spot it was in, how new is the carpeting? Can you get more? Pending the style I bet a prof installer could easily piece it in and not even have it be noticeable. Otherwise your best option is tile with a fireplace on top as mentioned (as long as it's in a spot that looks like it should have one, otherwise replacing the flooring is probably the only option left)

 

[tangdude]

if your just going to leave it behind and it may hinder your sale i would do you the favor of comeing over and picking it up without charging you for hauling it......

 

[malulu]

tagging along...

i was always having this same question in my mind, and need to know in advance.

thx for posting this great topic, also thanks for all the great advise!

having said that - i do like MikeNapoli's idea to get a fish tank care company for start.

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

I am still 50/50 on this decision. I posted over on Reef central also. If interested you can read it here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1353849 I've read many great ideas that I will use to make my decision. I'm not looking to give the tank away, I am just nervous about the market as is most people nowadays and I'm not sure which scenario will help me move the house quicker(if any).

I can tear it down right now and set it up at my brother's house to watch for me, I can leave it until I close or I can leave it for the new homeowner if they want. Right now I'm thinking about leaving it and getting a quote from ARM to break it down and move it on closing day.

Decisions, Decisions

Taz

 

[malulu]

Taz,

after i read your post on RC, they do have a lots of good advise, and really a tough choice.

please keep us post what will be your decision and the driving force.

good luck on your quest!

 

[danthemanj]

Convert the tank to a FOWLR. That will eliminate more than half the equipment and work needed. House some large, vibrant marine fish and show it to the kids of the people looking at your house Tell the new owners of the therapeutic uses of having a marine aquarium and how it has drastically lowered your Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. Use it as a selling point for the house.

Good Luck

 

[jceli728]

As a Real Estate Agent I coould tell you that the tank could be used as a selling feature. Unfortunately most of the time after the house is sold the tanks end up in the trash or somewhere else because not everyone is not committed in keeping it after they realize all the work that is to maintain one.

 

[AnDom1]

Taz

If the tank looks good without making the room appear smaller, leave it up as it will be a plus. Just make sure it's "clean", ie.water's clear, livestock in good shape and there's no salt crrep/splash marks etc. visible.

If the buyer is interested in the tank AND doesn't mind the basement setup and holes, then there's no problem.

If the buyer has a problem with the basement setup/holes, or just doesn't want a tank,then you must make it clear that the tank will be removed, all holes patched and all plunbing removed before the closing as a condition of the sale.

Dom

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

UPDATE: I had about 16 walk throughs in the 2 weeks that my house has been on the market. I chose to leave the tank up until somebody asked for it or I have to move it. The reactions were great. About half of the people ran past their agents to look at the tank as soon as they stepped in the door. A couple asked a little about it and a couple more were baffled by the sump system. All of the compliments did make me feel good though.

Only 2 people asked to keep the tank. Both of them happened to be really lowballing me on the price of the house. I did explain to them that they need to know what they were doing and actually used MikeNapoli's idea about suggesting a company come in to maintain it and he really thought hard about it...Unfortunately he couldn't even afford the house at the discounted way below market value that I was asking so I was just wasting my breath.

The current buyer that I am negotiating with actually lowballed me and then decided that he wanted extras that I was not offering including my tank. It actually took me by shock to see it in writing. I had to call to find out exactly what he had in mind....tank empty or as is! I started running replacement costs through my head and WOW it would be a fortune to get up and running again quickly! He did want all and I refused to budge on the livestock. I don't even know if he knew the difference between salt and freshwater. I agreed to leave him the empty tank, cabinet, sump, plumbing and return pump. That is it. No lighting, livestock or any other hardware.

I think I can now wipe the sweat off of my brows in relief that nobody else will kill my livestock other than me and I will not have to re-carpet, patch holes in floor and repaint the whole wall where I couldn't get behind the tank.

And even better yet, I can now go bigger!!!!!!!

Taz

 

[malulu]

good to hear this end up an OK deal... not too bad i guess.
thanks for sharing this info.

 

[mikem]

Hope everything goes well with the sale.

 

[momof6kids]

How exciting!! Hope all goes smoothly with the sale.... and the upgrade!!

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

Well as it turns out the original buyer backed out on me after arguing over the tank and flip/flopping back and forth over what he wanted out of me. Luckily that same night I had two more offers for the same amount I had originally settled for, but with NO headaches and a quick close(exactly what I needed). It was bittersweet. I got what I needed as far as schedule and financing to move on, but the new owner wants me to take the tank and is not worried about the holes in the hardwood floor or the lack of carpet under it!. I'm not upset to take he tank, but it is making it SOOOO much harder to convince my wife that I need the new 300 gallon tank tank that perfecto came out with. OH I was SO close! LOL

I guess I have to look at the big picture though. It's a huge load off of my shoulders, so I'll just have to keep trying to find that sweet spot that makes her say "dear you need a bigger tank. That'll look great there. Go ahead and get it!" ??? Until then, I'll be transferring everything as it is to the new house. LOL

Taz

 

[MikeNapoli]

Why don't you just part it out in the for sale forum. I'm sure if you put the prices low you can get rid of everything and then you'll have some money to put towards the new tank. You were gonna give the stuff away anyway so price it to sell quick.