Selling a Home?  Avoid these Common Home Buyer Turnoffs

Are you selling your home? Did you know that even though buyers are looking for something different, the majority of them will turn around and walk back out the door if they notice one or more of these ‘Top 10 Problems'.

1.      Odors

House odors are number one on the home selling uh-oh list.  And narrowing it down, odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind.  If you smoke indoors - the house smells like cigarettes.  If you have pets, the house might smell bad - even if you don't notice it.  Ask someone who doesn't live there to take a sniff, and don't get angry when they tell you the truth.  Eradicate the odors so that you can present potential buyers with a clean, fresh atmosphere - not a house that's full of perfumes to cover up the other odors.

2.      Dogs that Meet You at the Door or in the Driveway

Dogs frighten some people and irritate others. You'll have a much better response from showings if you control your pets - dogs, cats, whatever.   You say you plan to put them in a bedroom or garage and then ask people not to open the door to that area?  Bad idea.  Would you buy a house you can't inspect?  Of course not.   Remove pets during showings if possible.  If you can't, contain them in crates for their own safety and to show respect for the feelings of potential buyers.

 3.     Dirty Bathrooms

Grimy bathrooms are an instant turnoff.  Scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels - do what it takes to make them shine.  If you're serious about selling the home, the extra work is a must.

4.    Dimly Lit Rooms

Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so try to brighten them up:

• Replace dim light fixtures or use higher wattage bulbs
• Install additional light fixtures
• Install (quality) sun tunnels or skylights
• Remove heavy drapes to let the light stream through windows
• Repaint some rooms with colors that reflect light
• Trim tree limbs that shadow the house

Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff.  Clean them inside and out to bring in more light.  If possible, replace any double-pane windows with broken seals. You can find them by looking for a foggy residue (looks like milk on the glass) that cannot be removed.

5.   A House Full of Busy Wallpaper

Busy wallpaper in every room turns off most buyers, and even people who love wallpaper rarely like what you've chosen.  It's a personal decorative touch that they want to select themselves.    It's the masses you must appeal to when you're selling a home, so take a hard look at your wallpaper and decide it should be removed and replaced with paint.  Don't paint over it, because it will be obvious that you did - and buyers know that makes removing it even more difficult.

6.  Damp Basements

Dampness or damp smells in the basement throw up a red flag to buyers that the foundation leaks!   Most problems we see are not caused by faulty foundations. They occur because rainwater is being diverted towards the foundation instead of away from it.

• Clogged underground drains
• No rain gutters along roofline
• Downspouts aimed the wrong way

Go outside the next time it rains and determine where that runoff water is going.

7.   Bugs

Roaches, ants, spiders, any insect that shouldn't be in the house. Get rid of them!

8.   Poor Curb Appeal

You must grab a buyer's interest from the curb if you want to sell the home for top dollar.  Home buyers often refuse to go into a house with an unkempt yard, sagging doors or peeling paint. You say you can't afford to paint?  You can get that yard in tip-top shape and grab a screwdriver to fix those doors and cleaning doesn't cost a lot of money!  Clean the front door and ‘welcome' the buyers into your home.

 9.   Gutters with Plants and Small Trees Growing in Them

I'm serious!  Some people never clean their gutters, and it always makes buyers wonder what else hasn't been maintained.  Remember the drainage issue in #6?  Cleaning packed gutters might help.

10.   Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings

Yes, you ... leave the house during showings.  Home buyers feel awkward about opening closet doors and lingering for a really good look at the house if the seller is home.  Remember, hovering is for helicopters so give the buyers space when they need it most.

My Parting Words

Most of the Top 10 problems are home selling issues you can correct without spending a lot of money. Do it now, before you put the house on the market, because if your house develops a reputation among agents as the house that smells, the house with the huge barking dog or the house where the owner won't leave people alone, it will be too late. Your house will be last on their list to show potential buyers.

Lyn Sims (847)230-7324          Direct Home Search MLS Access         

Lyn's Website

Email:  LynSims@remax.net

Lyn Sims at RE/MAX Suburban is a veteran agent who works the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago in Bartlett, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Palatine, Medinah, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Elgin, South Elgin and St. Charles.

"Blog Dog"©2008 Lyn Sims