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.
- Dirt
- Odors
- Old fixtures
- Wallpaper
- Popcorn acoustic ceilings
- Too many personal items
- Snoopy sellers
- Misrepresenting your home
- Poor curb appeal
- 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.
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.
As 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 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 I 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.
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