 In a slow market, sellers are willing to try just about anything to lure in prospective buyers. Sellers and builders are now routinely offering things such as cabinet upgrades, kitchen remodeling, and other freebies to home buyers. While it was common in the past for sellers to pay the buyers' closing costs and broker bonuses, now they're taking the incentive game to another level. Because of the ice-cold housing market, some people are going to extremes to offer incentives like five-day cruise vacations, money-back guarantees, Ikea gift cards, golf club memberships, and in one particularly unique case, their inheritance. According to a Current World News article, Bob and Ricki Husick of Pittsburgh, PA actually went as far to offer a full cash refund to their buyer when they die. The couple, who are currently asking for just under $400,000 for the 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home, say that whoever buys their home will get this money back plus $100,000 when the couple dies, though some stipulations do apply. The buyer must wait until the Husicks die to receive the money and the couple must die of natural causes. But that's not all the Pittsburgh couple is offering. They also say that if the buyer agrees to care for them when they can no longer care for themselves, the buyer will also receive the couple's retirement home in Arizona upon their death. Not a bad deal, though they haven't had any takers yet. Ron Phipps, a Rhode Island broker is also getting creative with incentives. He aims to tie the incentive promotion to some aspect of the property. For instance, if the yard is beautiful but requires a lot of care, he'll offer free landscaping for a year. If a bathroom is dated, he'll throw in a free renovation. He even went as far as to give anyone who came to look at the house, thirty days of free groceries. Some other crazy incentives include one builder, Georgia-based Forrest Homes, who is giving away a two-year lease on a Volkswagen Beetle with a home purchase. Pulte Homes, a Michigan-based homebuilder, is paying the heating bills for six months to anyone who buys a home. It's certain that everyone wants something for nothing, and as housing market freezes over, homebuyers are starting to get just that with some creative and downright crazy incentive. (written by: K. Skowronski)
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