We just started the second selling season four weeks ago and the market has been heating up nicely.
I want to talk about five deal killers that will kill an opportunity for you to sell your home.
- The home shows dirty. This is probably the number one deal killer. If the buyer gets the feeling that you don’t take good care of the home, forget about selling it anytime soon. In most cases, the buyer will walk out without even finishing the tour. Homes need to be “show ready.” That means: freshen up the paint, clean up the marks on the walls, carpets are clean or replaced, everything is put away, lights are on, and it is clean, clean, and clean.
- Bad photos. This could easily be the number one turn off for buyers and may even prevent you from getting a showing. Make sure that you hire professionals to take pictures of the home. Also, make sure that you have taken the time to get the home ready for picture day. A good real estate photographer will know how to get the most out of your home with photos. If the pictures look bad online, there is little chance that anyone will want to make the effort to go out and see your home in person.
- Misleading information. If there is information about your home that is being circulated on the internet or ads that are incorrect or misleading, it could be a big deal killer. People need to feel like they can trust you, and if you are putting out incorrect or bad information, it raises a red flag and scares buyers away.
- Seller has too high expectations. There is no question that we, as home owners, all have a high opinion of our homes. We also need to weigh that against good sales data which should not be ignored. An unrealistic purchase price will ensure that your property stays on the market for a good long time. Sellers also need to be realistic with their expectations once the home goes under contract. It would be foolish to think that you are going to come away unscathed during the inspection process.
- Horrendous home improvements. You’ll notice that I did not say “bad home improvements” because “bad” would be ok and is generally fixable. I see horrendous home improvements all the time that fall into the category of “what were they thinking,” like a total concrete back yard. These can be really quick deal killers because some buyers can’t see past the problem and visualize a better result.
Of course, the list is not limited to just five deal killers, but those are and should be the top five. I am sure that you can come up with a few on your own and I would love to hear them.
Dan Polimino is a Broker/Owner with the Colorado Dream House Team, Keller Williams Realty DTC. Contact Dan at 303-522-1161, dan@coloradodreamhouse.com, codreamhouse.com or coloradodreamhouse.com
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