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Ten things to AVOID when you want to sell your house in Sacramento County CA!

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks

Ten things to AVOID when you want to sell your house in Sacramento County!


I just read an article at BankRate.com called "10 ways to turn off a buyer" in which a list is given that was compiled from the experiences of some real estate agents and a home stager in different parts of the country.  These ten situations are considered "turnoffs that should be avoided at all costs."  I agree.

  1. Dirt
  2. OdorsThinking of selling your home?
  3. Old fixtures
  4. Wallpaper
  5. Popcorn acoustic ceilings
  6. Too many personal items
  7. Snoopy sellers
  8. Misrepresenting your home
  9. Poor curb appeal
  10. Clutter

I'm not sure that this is supposed to be the order from worst to best, but if that was their goal, I would rearrange my list a bit.  Of course none are any good, but I would put snoopy sellers higher on the list.  Sellers should not hang around to snoop on showings

There have been a few gorgeous homes that my buyers would not consider because the seller followed them around, trying to hear their comments and directing their attention away from things that they were specifically looking for and toward things that the seller thought were most important.

Also curb appeal might need to move up on the list.  I have had buyers not even want to see the inside of a home because the outside looked shabby and neglected.

Curb appeal must appeal to lots of buyersAs for wallpaper, very few people want to deal with it, but surprisingly I have had people who were willing to tackle its removal rather than deal with popcorn ceilings, for example.

Misrepresenting your home can be a killer, but I don't see that as often as you might think.  What does bother me is when a listing agent will write in the MLS that the home is spotless and that the seller is a meticulous housekeeper, but when you see the house, it is filthy. 

The list above does put dirt at #1, but even worse is when you see a completely different home from  that described.  That combines the dirt and the Smelly homes are not cute!misrepresentation.

As for odors, I would also put that issue at the top of my list.  I have written about this in the past.  There are homes listed for sale that are so stinky with either pet urine or cigar/cigarette smoke or both, that I can't even get more than a few feet inside the door before I have to retreat - and my clients feel the same. You cannot disguise a smelly house with perfume or room spray either.

I'm usually pretty successful at getting my sellers to declutter and pack away their collections, but clearly some listing agents don't feel the same.  I warn my buyers before taking them out that some homes will have lots of stuff and family pictures, and Collections distract buyers from your homeI urge them to ignore those things the best they can, since the important thing is for them to picture their own things in the house.

Even then, when I ask which homes they liked and which they didn't, they will sometimes ask, "Was that the one with the bug collection or the one with the cute baby pictures?"

Anyway, those are my own thoughts.  How do you feel about their list? Are there things you would add?  I can think of a few.

If you want to read everything that they wrote about the issues on the list, you can read it here.  

To find any properties for sale in Sacramento County California, you can check them out here. 

Remember, I can help you to tour any homes for sale in Sacramento County and the surrounding areas, no matter what firm has it listed, and I can help you with your purchase if you find the perfect home for you.

Just give me a call at (916) 705-8951

 

 

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Susan Neal
Broker / Realtor

Susan Neal Fine Properties

Century 21 Noel David Realty
Fair Oaks, California

Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 30+ years experience. 
I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction.

"Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916)705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.    

HUD homes resource             Search HUD Homes

Check out my business page on facebook:  Susan Neal Fine Properties

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Thinking of selling your home?  Remember, it costs you nothing for me to come out and discuss your home, the market in your area, and give you a market analysis and presentation so that you will know what you can expect to get for your home.

Call for appointment:  (916) 705-8951


Also Remember, if you are planning to buy a home, I can help you to tour any home for sale in Sacramento County and the surrounding areas, no matter what firm has it listed, and I can help you with your purchase if you find the perfect home for you.

Just give me a call at (916) 705-8951

***********
Susan Neal
Broker / Realtor

Susan Neal Fine Properties
RE/MAX Gold
Fair Oaks, California

Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 30+ years experience. 
I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction.

"Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916)705-8951 or visitmy website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.    

HUD homes resource            Search HUD Homes

Check out my business page on facebook:  Susan Neal Fine Properties

 

Comments (6)

Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Susan, you have done a great job elaborating on this list that was compiled by Bankrate.com.

We do not have the seller issue in our MLS board.  Sellers are expected to vacate so the buyers are free to react and discuss the home with the buyers agent.  I detest popcorn ceilings!!!

Cat urine and heavy smoker residue seem to be the worst odors with the buyers I work with.  Good tip if the urine has permeated into the wood decking throught the carpet.  Seal the floor decking with primer or Kilz before laying down the new padding and carpet.  It seals the odor in!

Jul 11, 2012 12:34 PM
Nevin Williams
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation - Cary, NC
Senior Mortgage Advisor

Hi Susan - These are all important but I think odor should be #1

Jul 11, 2012 01:44 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Bruce - We try to discourage all sellers to be out of the house or showings, and many are good about that, but some simply don't seem to be able to stand not knowing what's going on.  It makes potential buyers very uncomfortable.

Hi Nevin - Thanks, and I agree with you.

Jul 11, 2012 02:23 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired
Hi Susan, The list is pretty good and it gets to the heart of many issues that can affect Buyers. I wouldn't add this one though. I had an open house on Sunday in an immaculate home and the second couple in said she was allergic to dog hair and I wondered why they didn't call me ahead and ask before making a fuss in front of others at the Open House. When I told the sellers and described the couple, they said they lived in the neighborhood fuss at everyone with a pet.
Jul 11, 2012 04:46 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

This is an important list Susan, sellers in Sacramento County can learn from this.

Jul 11, 2012 05:33 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

William - Amazing.  It seems that when you go into a public place or an open house (not like you are visiting with family or friends) you have to expect that sometimes you may encounter pets or people who own them.

Tom - Thanks.  I hope so.  Selling your home should not be that complicated, but some sellers think that they don't have to do anything but tell people to come in.  They are insulted when they are told to clean or change things around or paint or put things away.  As if it is an attack on their housekeeping.  It is simply that we all live in our homes one way, but to sell them, the homes have to look pretty much like what you see in the home and garden magazines.

Jul 12, 2012 08:28 AM