All buyers have an ideal of the home they want to purchase. There are certain things they are looking for and it is a logical but also an emotional decision. However, there are some things that will turn buyers off even if the home has everything else they want.
Neglected Repairs - Corroded or leaky faucets, broken or scarred cupboard doors that won't close properly, light fixtures that don't work or are dirty or give off little light, chipped paint on the walls and trim are the things that give the impression that the house is in disrepair and poorly maintained with unseen problems. All of these things are easy to fix and should be done before your house hits the market.
Too Much Stuff - When a home is full of clutter, the buyer cannot see the forest for the trees. All that they will remember is the clutter and not room sizes or layout. You have to pack up to move, so do it sooner rather than later. Clear out the clutter. Also depersonalize. You want the buyer to picture themselves in your home, not you.
Unpleasant of Overpowering Odours - Unpleasant smells can come from pets, smoking, cooking, smelly garbage or mildew and you may no longer notice them. Buyers will notice immediately, even to the point of thinking they will have to rip out the carpets at great expense. Ask a friend or relative if they can smell any odours in your home. Smoke outside, have your carpets, drapes and upholstery professionally cleaned or at the very least spray Frebreeze on them. Your Realtor® should tell you if there are odours.
Outdated or Unattractive Decorating - Outdated or busy wallpaper, unattractive paint colours, weird coloured carpets, and old dingy flooring are major turn-offs for many buyers who cannot see past such shortcomings or will overestimate the cost of painting, or replacing flooring. Neutral colours and subdued patterns aren't likely to offend so strip the wallpaper, paint the walls and rip up the carpet or replace the linoleum. These items get about 100% return on investment in a house sale.
Comments(1)