Today’s homeowners know more about the home selling process than ever before. Home remodeling shows are everywhere these days, all embracing the cardinal rules of home decorating. Unfortunately for the homeowner, designer opinions vary from season to season and are often contradictory. This can make an already stressful process much more difficult than it should be. The truth is that there are certain things that make buyers run. These red flag items are the top ten things that can scare off a homebuyer.
10. An overgrown garden. Curb appeal is a relatively new term used to describe the curb appeal of a home, and in particular the landscape features. Since the exterior gives buyers their first impression of a home, it is imperative that this area look its best. Even if you can’t afford expensive plants and outdoor furniture, a well-trimmed lawn and swept driveway are important steps in the right direction.
With an overgrown front yard, all buyers see is work. They think about the time and money it will take to go to the garden and get it into shape. You want your home to be as move-in ready as possible, and that includes your yard.
9. Wallpaper. While wallpaper can be an attractive addition to a room, to buyers it represents work. The effort it takes to remove the wallpaper is great. If there’s a lot of wallpaper to deal with, buyers can dismiss the house as too much work and move on.
Limit your wallpaper to small areas and don’t be too keen on patterns and bright colors. Wallpaper must be in style year after year and must appeal to many tastes.
8. Clutter. While having a cluttered home may work for you, when you’re selling your home, you need to focus on the buyer’s needs. They won’t be able to focus on the house itself if there are personal effects scattered everywhere. Clutter is very distracting and its presence implies that you don’t care about your home. If you can’t be bothered to order before a showing, what else are you neglecting? Clutter also gives the impression that there is not enough storage space in the home. Buyers are generally looking for a long-term commitment, so they need to feel like there’s enough space for all their stuff now and for the foreseeable future.
Clean up and put away leftover items if you really want to sell your house. The cost will definitely be worth it.
7. Low prices. While buyers are always on the hunt for a bargain, if your asking price is significantly lower than comparable properties, questions will arise. Buyers may assume there are major problems with the home, particularly if it appears to be in good condition on the surface. They may think that you are hiding problems and the buyer’s confidence will be broken.
6. Crazy decoration. If you have a real penchant for themed rooms or if you collect fish figurines, keep in mind that not everyone will appreciate the aesthetic of your home. Yes, it’s your home and you have every right to decorate it however you see fit, but if you really want to sell your home, you have to be aware of buyers’ sentiments. Store your unique treasures and neutralize rooms. You want to create a blank canvas for buyers so they can imagine living there. Just like household clutter, bright colors and quirky knick-knacks can be distracting and off-putting. If your buyer can’t see past the decor, they’ll just move on to the next house.
Create a warm and welcoming environment for buyers and save your personal style for your next property.
5. Farts. You love your pets; you couldn’t live without them! Shoppers, on the other hand, don’t love their pets. Opening the front door and seeing cats and dogs can set off potential buyers’ alarm bells. Carpet stains, hair loss, and lingering odors are just a few of the dangers of pet ownership. There may also be damage to the walls and floor due to urine stains. It is very difficult to remove pet stains and odors; Buyers don’t want to deal with the aftermath of their pets. There are also allergies to consider. There are many people who are allergic to cats and dogs, and they can develop serious respiratory problems and skin rashes.
The best way to deal with this problem without getting rid of Fido is to deal with accidents as they happen. Do not allow urine to sit for any length of time. Be sure to clean the area with vinegar and water, and sprinkle baking soda on the carpet to neutralize the odor. Clean your carpets and upholstery, and be sure to vacuum and dust every day while your home is on the market. You may even consider purchasing an air purifier, which will help refresh the space. Keep windows open to ventilate the area, and keep pets out of the home during visits. If you’re diligent about cleaning and airing, buyers may not even know you’ve had pets in the house, and that will definitely work in your favor.
4. Obsolete accessories. Avocado green bathroom fixtures scream ‘outdated’. Not only are they unattractive, but they also reveal how little maintenance has been done over the years. Buyers will want up-to-date accessories and may deduct the cost of replacement from the purchase price. For others, replacing items may simply be too much work and they will throw off their home entirely.
3. Tuxedo. Some people are allergic to the smell of smoke; others just hate it. The smell of tobacco lingers for literally years, and nicotine stains everything it touches. Homebuyers know this, and if they smell smoke when they walk into your home, there’s a good chance they’ll immediately cross your property off their list. Even if they love the structure and decor, if it smells like cigarettes, buyers will run away.
2. Excessive prices. Pricing your home is possibly the most difficult part of putting a property on the market. Often homeowners have invested a great deal of time and money in their homes and want to see a return on their investment. Homeowners are also biased and see their home as worth more than a real estate agent realizes. It is absolutely critical to listen to your listing agent’s advice on pricing. They will do a market analysis and find out what comparable homes in the area are listed for and what the final sales prices are. You need to look at the age and condition of your home, compare it to similar properties, and then decide how much your home is really worth. Market conditions change frequently, so while people were willing to pay through the nose a year ago, they are not so willing to pay as much today. List your home based on current conditions and check your emotions at the door. Also, be willing to negotiate. If you’re dead set on a price and you don’t get any offers, then you need to re-examine things. Be willing to give up a little or be prepared to stay in the market for a long time.
1. Cracked base. If your house appears to be shaky in any way, buyers will flock to the hills. If there are cracks, even small ones, take them to a professional to be checked and repaired. Even if a crack is harmless, it sets off alarm bells in buyers’ minds. Cracks can not only be potentially dangerous, but repairs can also be expensive. If a buyer is willing to buy your home with the crack still present, they are likely to write the costs of repairs out of the purchase price anyway, so it’s best to fix the problem before potential buyers walk through the door.