Did Your Home Commit a Faux Pas in Today’s Competitive Market?

Some homes present themselves beautifully when put on the market to sell. It’s hard to find fault with them and not surprisingly they sell quickly.

Some homes are committing one or more faux pas. And buyers don’t like it.

It’s probably not the home’s fault directly. More than likely it’s the owner who has not taken care of a problem, has allowed something to deteriorate, or just ignored a particular obvious defect.

Perhaps sellers think buyers will not notice. Or they will overlook it, or not care.

Ha!

Buyers are on the look-out for these faux pas when touring homes they are considering purchasing. They notice, just like people notice social blunders and indiscretions in public. True, when there are few homes for sale some buyers may be willing to ignore certain boo boos, but as a home owner are you willing to take that risk?

Case in point.

I toured a beautiful home yesterday with some Carlsbad buyers, priced in the $800s. The home was well cared for and presented itself very nicely. Until we got to the master bath.

Big faux pas!

The bath was carpeted, which most buyers shy away from these days. Why anyone would have carpet in a bath where the potential for getting wet is perhaps the greatest in the house is hard to understand. Buyers ALWAYS wonder out loud about this. Don’t get me started on carpeted toilet areas.

But even worse the carpet, a neutral beige, was horribly stained right by the sink and bathtub. Glaring faux pas. Right smack in your face faux pas.

Of course the buyers wanted to know what the problem was. It was a big turn off. And it was an easy fix – replace the carpet, or put in tile instead.

I see lots of faux pas committed by houses. Some make you shake your head, shudder or wail OMG!

Front doors that are hard to open

Keys that are practically impossible to use

Sliders to the backyard that hardly move or have huge holes in the screens

Smells – some homes really are stinky, for a host of reasons…pets, food, cigarettes

Really dirty windows

Dog doo all over the beautiful back yard

Dirty dishes in the sink

Dirty laundry on the floor

You get the picture.

Take a close look at your home with a critical eye before you list (or now, if your home is already listed) – is that a faux pas your house just committed?