YOU GET USED TO IT

Thanks to Ashleigh Byrne for the photo

My son used to be a runner. When he was two I installed one of those chains at the top of the front door, thinking it would keep him from busting out and cruising the neighborhood. 

It didn't. The clever little guy figured out how to stack pieces of furniture in the entryway so he could climb up, undo the chain, and let himself out. Thing is, he’s my son. This was just the way he was and so we dealt with it. You do that. After a while you don’t even give it a second thought. It doesn’t occur to you that there’s anything weird about having a chain on your door seven feet up. 

Now think about putting your house up for sale. People are going to be coming in, looking to see if the place you call home doesn’t just meet their needs, but fulfills their fantasies. And you don’t get to be there to explain. 

The lock on the fridge? The shoelace you’re using to tie the window shut? The window alarms on the cupboards? As a real estate agent I’ve seen people completely blow off an otherwise amazing house because the paint color in the living room was a little too blue. 

You might think a deadbolt on the stairs to the basement says “the loving family of an autistic kid lives in this house.” Trust me, more likely it screams “Run! They're slaughtering kittens here.”

What I’m getting at is that when you go to list your house, it might be helpful to have someone go around with you, helping you to spot all the “accommodations” you’ve made. You don't have to undo them, but at least make notes of them so you don’t leave things to the buyers’ imaginations. 

I know. It’s amazing. Some buyers can’t picture the living room wall being a lighter blue, but let them see your little girl's collection of severed doll heads and their imaginations work just fine.

Brian Belefant is an Oregon Licensed Real Estate Agent whose son is ASD / SPD. So he gets it. Call him at (503) 715 2852 or send him an emai at brianb (dot) mrealty (at) gmail (dot) com.