How Will Your Buyers “Tag” Your House?
Buyers tend to give homes they view nicknames to help them 
remember something about the house. They’re not alone….agents, home inspectors, stagers… we all do it.
As a home buyer, I can remember tagging homes I’d viewed with names like “the odd house” or “the dog house.”
How will your buyers tag your house?
While you can’t control everything about a showing, you can make sure that your property avoids these tags:
The Smelly House:
You can have a million dollar home that is beautifully landscaped but “smell won’t sell.” Ask any agent and they’ll agree.
-Clean and deodorize your carpets
-Remove heavy drapes that need cleaning
-Vacuum and clean your upholstered furniture
-Find the source. It could be your garbage disposal or drain; mold somewhere; lingering cooking odors.
The Dirty House:
It’s the same with a dirty house. DIRT is a huge turnoff to buyers. Unless the buyer is an investor who doesn’t care because he’s ready to provide a low-ball offer, your best bet for protecting your investment is to clean your house.
-If you need to, hire a team of professional cleaners.
-Don’t stop with your usual floors and dusting. Clean under, over, inside of, behind, around and on top of everything.
The Outdated House:
There’s no need to knock everything down and out but any updates you can provide will go a long way in helping to show the value in your home.
-Update your light fixtures
-Focus on the kitchen. Many buyers are willing to consider a property if the kitchen (which is where we spend the most time) is updated. Paint the cabinets, change the hardware, update the countertop if you can.
The Odd House:
Some things you just can’t change. However if you have a house with some rooms that are shape- challenged, such as the bowling alley room- consider getting it staged. Show your buyers how that odd room can work.
The “It’s OK” House:
Exactly… your buyer walks out and says “it’s ok.” You need to turn that house into an “I can see myself living there” house.
-consider adding some color with accessories or plants
-Freshen it with paint
-Highlight the one area that made you fall in love with your home
-Call a professional home stager for advice!
The Too Much Work House:
If you have deferred maintenance projects, tackle them now! Buyers hope for a move-in ready home. The little calculator in their heads will add up everything they see that needs fixing as they walk through your home and double that figure. If they decide to make an offer, that figure will affect their offering price.
And, don’t forget the buyers who don’t have the time, money or desire to tackle these projects. They’ll just move on to the next listing.
Don’t let your home be burdened with one of the above tags. It’s up to you to help sell your house and protect your investment.
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