There’s a reason your home isn’t selling. If you’ve had a lot of people looking, then it’s probably not the price. It could be the condition of the property or something else that’s leaving you without an offer. You’ll need to dig a little deeper to find the real reason buyers are turning away.
Most of the reasons you’ll find can be corrected with minimal cost and effort. Eliminating concerns before putting your home on the market can go a long way in getting an offer that much faster and maximizing your return.
Throughout our combined 24 years of experience in the real estate industry, here are a few of the TOP Homebuyer Turnoffs we’ve come across…
Price is King
Being overpriced will keep Buyers from coming on in and leave your home sitting on the market longer than it should and the longer it sits the more interest in your home wanes. Being under-priced will leave buyers wondering what’s wrong with the house. Price may draw them in, but it’s the up close personal curb appeal and overall appeal of the exterior that will make Buyers want to come on in or get back in their car. So, spruce up the landscaping, clean out the gutters, etc. Buyers have very vivid imaginations….If it’s scary or un-kept outside, they’ll fear the worst about the inside.
Oh! That Smell
Smelly odors are at the top of the list when it comes to turning off Buyers. Cigarette smoke and house pets really stink up the house and leave other nasty stains on walls and carpets. In addition, strong cooking smells, full wastebaskets in the kitchen and bathrooms, clothes hampers, and stinky shoes can also leave odors that’ll make buyers gag.
Hint: Avoid lit candles and air fresheners that you leave out…they’ll make buyers suspicious and wondering what you’re covering up. Bake some cookies, place some eucalyptus around the house, cook popcorn, or spray fabreeze around the house.
Dark and Dingy
Wallpaper is not something buyers tolerate very well, especially if every room in the house has it. Also, if the colors in your home are dark or the walls have crazy faux painting or really bold colors, you’ll want to neutralize them by given those walls a fresh coat of paint. You need to help the Buyers see themselves in your home by giving them a neural palette to work with.
Wallpaper and dark or bold paint colors is almost like a major repair to Buyers. They see it as a difficult task to change and don’t want the headache.
Time Warp
Unfortunately, personal decorating choices come into play and not everyone is going to love your choice in furniture, curtains or accessories. Buyers are looking for homes that invoke feelings of fresh, bright, current. They may have a difficult time seeing past the 70’s wall mural or the crush velvet couch. Making a few simple changes can make a world of difference. An experienced REALTOR can offer some advice.
Other Peoples Filth
Cleaning the home is a definite must, but the kitchen and bathrooms are the two rooms you’ll want to be overly compulsive about. No one wants someone else’s grime and dirt, especially in these spaces. So, clean and clean and clean some more. Make then shine like never before.
Beware of the Animals
Most people don’t like being greeted unexpectedly by loose animals as soon as they get in the door. Buyers may be frightened or even allergic to your family pets. It’s best to take them out of the house when there is a showing. If that’s not possible, then keep them in a cage in the basement or garage and let the REALTOR and Buyers know your pets will be in the home.
Damp Basements
Moisture or musty damp smells in the home really set off the Buyers alarm that something isn’t right with the home…possibly foundation problems, roof or gutter problems, MOLD! Most of the time a damp basement isn’t caused by any serious issue, but take precautions and have it checked out or you could just lose a Buyer before you even get an offer.
Pests and Bugs