What Buyers Hate

What things turn off a buyer

Things that sabotage your sale

How to get less money when you sell

Anyone of these is a title for this article.  Universally many of these were included if you google this topic.  SO, seller’s take note of how the presentation of your home affects buyers and their decision as to what to offer or IF they will offer on your home.

-Odors came up most often, food, pet, moldy smells were a huge turnoff

-Cleanliness, clutter, dishes in the sink (yup it was on the list) or cluttered kitchen countertops (people want to envision themselves cooking there).  Piles of laundry or clothes that need the laundry.  Cluttered corners in rooms, do we need to say more?

-Haunted house landscaping, meaning too many weeds, too much of any one thing, or dead or no landscaping. (Chris and Dena you know you are exceptions!!!)

-It’s clear HGTV and the décor shows think you should put up wallpaper and paint accent walls, but personal taste is just that, personal to you.  If you are getting ready to sell, don’t put up wallpaper, or paint unusual colors.  Ask the Realtor or Stager about color choices that neutralize.

-Too much of anything, collections, color, décor, etc.  Needless to say, valuable collectables should not be left out, they should be packed up and removed from the homes.  

-And, a music room is great if it’s not the only One, two or third bedroom, pet rooms, well what if the buyer has no pets or is allergic?  You might say, “that’s their problem”, however, 44% of all American homes do not have pets.  

Think about who the buyer most interested in a home like yours, would be?  

Neutralize your home, so they can see their things there, not yours.

Unless you are in a seniors only community, you may need to offer flexible spaces for the types of groups that might be buying.  

While it does take effort and a budget to prepare your home for sale, the bottom line is that you’ll have more interested parties, resulting in more offers and thus more money to take to your next home. The difficulty is taking HOME and emotionally turning it back into one of the largest investments most folks make in a lifetime.  Once you make the shift emotionally, Primp, Polish and treat your home like the Investment it is.  It will pay you back!!!  

If the slower market in the statistics below gives you pause, remember a well prepared and staged home brings more money and a faster sale.