"Please don't let the cats out" and other words dooming the sale of a home

It's no secret that pictures sell homes but there are other words that might just scare a buyer off.  My top ten list of words that have a negative affect on attracting buyers to a home for sale include phrases like:

• Don't let the cats out - which will elicit a much stronger aversion than the singular "cat".

• Sellers are smokers - honestly, you may never get a buyer to view this home.

• Needs some TLC  - which many buyers will read as "demolition project". The home better be priced lower than all the others if you're going to market it with these words.
  

• Please don't go in the backyard due to mean dog - might put a home on the bottom of the pile in favor of other homes where buyers can actually see the backyard.

• Day Sleeper, please don't enter master bedroom during the day - it's just creepy to walk around a home knowing the seller is asleep in the next room.

• Flooring allowance - personally I think it's better to reduce the list price to reflect the need for flooring as advertising the fact that it needs flooring might eliminate the home from the showing 'short list'.
  

• 24 hour notice before showing - this one might eliminate a buyer that's in town for a day.

• Tenants 48 hours notice required - this is a double whammy.  First there's the notification issue, second is the word 'tenents' which often translates into the house is a mess.  I know this isn't always the case, but many buyers feel this is the norm.

• Handyman special - see "needs some TLC". Note: If this home is priced below the market value and other listings...these words might actually help sell a home.
  

• Short Sale - There's not much a seller can do about these 2 little words but the fact remains, while there are more buyers who will entertain submitting an offer on a short sale than there used to be, buyers who want to close on their home in a timely manner will be concentrating on traditional resales.

Selling a home is very psychological...Great photos + Great words don't necessarily result in a sale, but they will get more buyers interested in seeing the home.