What makes my house so hard to sell?

I often think back to a conversation I once had with a client. I remember getting her phone call that had found a home online, and it was perfect, and she just couldn’t wait to see it. It had everything she wanted… Spacious rooms, a garage big enough for both cars, and the perfect room for a nursery. When we went to check it out, this client instantly knew it wasn't the one and all it took was one look at the backyard. So what did she find that was so alarming? The previous owners had put in a swimming pool. Now, for those of you who have lived in the south for quite some time, it gets awfully hot here and for a lot of residents, we start to wish we had a pool to dive into. This was what the previous owners thought but for this particular client, when she saw the swimming pool all she could imagine was the dangers that an in ground pool may present for her young children. This home didn't turn out to be her dream home after all, and don't worry just the next day we found the one, but it left me wondering what other home additions could potentially make clients nervous and might make a bit harder for owners to sell.

1. A swimming pool. Much like the client I mentioned above, many home owners fear for their children’s safety when they see an in ground pool, but this isn't the only reason. For many clients, a pool in the backyard means just one other thing they're going to have to pay for. Pools may be great for the heat, but they have to be maintained. Some just prefer not to have the pool guy in their backyard where as some may not physically or financially able to keep a pool clean.
2. A school next door. For a family with young children, having a school right next door sounds great! No sitting in the carpool lane, no being late for school, and for the kids... getting to sleep in a little longer! But for some, having a school next door can just be too loud. For others, a school next door would be terrific if you didn't have to drive to work but since a lot of us have to leave the home, having to deal with traffic problems from the school on the way to work and the way home, may get a little exhausting.
3. Too much to see or do. As I mentioned, some couples may prefer a quieter home. They don't want to look outside and see restaurants or movie theaters or just too much foot traffic. Many crave the city life or wanting to walk across the street to get dinner but many others prefer a quieter time when they're at home.
4. Where do you sleep? For a young couple, having a master bedroom downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs isn’t such a big. But for some, seeing the staircase you have to climb every time the baby upstairs starts to cry, just doesn't seem like much fun. Some owners just can't handle walking up the stairs due to physical ailments. It's certainly something to consider.
5. Crazy renovations. If you're a chef, finding a home with a giant size kitchen sounds wonderful! Even better, adding in another large oven sounds just as great! But to someone who just doesn't enjoy cooking, seeing a kitchen with two ovens just looks extreme. Other additions, such as an overly landscaped yard, leave potential buyers thinking less is more. They may pass over your home.
6. The backyard. This one just seems like common sense. The size of the backyard just depends on what the owner wants to do with it. Some want a large backyard for the dogs and some just want a small yard with less to take care of. Truth be told, it just depends on the buyer but a large and even a small backyard, can make or break a deal.
7. Tile floors. Here's one that's pretty interesting. If you asked 10 people what they preferred for flooring, not everyone could agree on just one. For some it's carpet, for some its hardwood, and for some it's tile. But if they had to choose, most people would veto tile flooring first. They're hard to remove, if you decide you want to change the flooring, and they're awfully hard to walk on... literally. If you're like me, you're sure to keep your shoes on when there's a tile floor, and for a lot of buyers, home means kicking off their shoes.