1.  Dirt

Nothing turns off a prospective buyer quicker than a dirty house.  You must get your home in the absolute best condition it has ever been in.  Scrub and then scrub some more.

Old carpets should be replaced with new.  If the carpets are relatively new, then at least have them commercially shampooed.

Your home must be clean and free of all debris, including outdoors.

2.  Odors

Make sure your home smells fresh.  Remove all evidence of pets, including pet beds, cat litter boxes, water and food bowls.  Make sure pets aren't home during showings if you can.  Just seeing pet bowls can sometimes make a potential home buyer imagine they are smelling pet odors.  Remember, not everyone owns pets or allows them into their home.

Kitchen odors can also be really bad.  It is best not to cook fried food or fish in the house while it is on the market.  Also, keep the kitchen and bath trash cans empty and clean.

If you smoke, repaint walls, remove all ashtrays and clean all drapes/curtains and upholstery.  Smoke outdoors while your home is on the market.  Nonsmokers are "very" sensitive to smoke odors.

3.  Wallpaper

Wallpaper used to be very popular in homes -- I had it in almost every room 10 years ago - but it has fallen out of favor.  Remember how long it took you to look through those wallpaper books and choose a pattern?  What are the odds that a buyer is going to like what you chose?  Next to none!  Plus, removing wallpaper is quite a chore and just adds one more item to the buyer's to-do list.  Long to-do lists usually equal no sale...

4.  Poor Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is going to be the first thing a prospective buyer sees.  I have taken buyers out to see a home where they took one look and said they didn't even want to go in.  Your home could be gorgeous and clean inside, exactly what the buyer is looking for, but if it doesn't have good curb appeal, sometimes you just can't get by that.

Make sure your lawn is trimmed and mowed at least once weekly in the spring and summer.  Mulch the flower beds and trim the trees and bushes.

Power wash the exterior of all wasps and bird's nests.  Careful about the wasps, though.  There is a right way and a wrong way to deal with them.  If the home hasn't been repainted in a long time, consider putting on a fresh coat.

5.  Clutter

Remove all clutter inside and outside.

As a rule, there should be no more than three countertop appliances in the kitchen.  Bookshelves should be divided into thirds:  one-third books, one-third vases and pictures, and one-third empty.

As for closets, they should be half-full with nothing on the floor.  This makes the closets look spacious and inviting.

6.  Too Many Personal Items

Sellers should try to eliminate most personal items, including family photos and personal effects.  Buyers get distracted by these and tend to get caught up in whether they went to school with you, what your children look like, etc.  You want the prospective buyers concentrating on all of the positive attributes of your home and envisioning themselves living in it.

7.  Old Fixtures

New cabinet hardware and doorknobs probably won't cost more than $400 or $500, but they make huge difference.  The same goes for replacing dated ceiling fans, kitchen appliances and light fixtures.

Not replacing these items before going on the market may cost you a lot more in the long run with you not receiving the highest price possible in the sale of your home.

8.  Those Popcorn Acoustic Ceilings

This is a major turnoff to buyers.  If you can't stand the idea of paying the cost and suffering the mess to have them removed, be prepared to credit the buyer for the inconvenience.  My best advice is to get rid of them yourselves as they are a major turnoff to buyers and really date your home.

9.  Snoopy Sellers

It is best to vacate the premises for showings.  Realtors(R) and buyers in general get very irritated when a seller remains in the home for a showing.  Potential buyers are not able to converse openly with their Realtor(R) about positives and negatives of the home for fear of insulting the seller, and the Realtor(R) is also not able to do their job when the seller is present.  Be sure to give them their space so they can candidly discuss whether your home best suits their needs and price range.

10.  Misrepresenting Your Home

Misrepresenting your home online or on the MLS is a major turnoff to buyers as they will feel that you wasted their time having to drive out there only to find out there is a steel cemetary in view, or a supermarket or train tracks.

Now, the Realtor(R) should be familiar with any areas where they are showing homes to their buyers, but that isn't true 100% of the time.  It is best to just be upfront and disclose any major issues with your home, property lines, etc. when the property is listed for sale.  It saves you, the buyers and Realtors(R) from the frustration and inconvenience of making the appointment, showing the home and you having to vacate your home while they are there.

Remember, all known defects,  noises, critters and anything that impacts the desirability of your home is going to have to be disclosed before close of escrow anyway.  Better to just it upfront.

If you would like to search the MLS for listings in San Luis Obispo County, visit my website.    If you have any real estate questions or general questions about Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo County, please contact me via email or call me at (805) 235-0234 for more information.

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