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As you go through the home selling process, you
will encounter every type of buyer--buyers that love the house but hate
the furniture, buyers that hate the house but can't live without the
furniture, and everyone in between. Buyers come in every size, and
shape and their interests are as diverse as their appearance.
Though you cannot convince everyone that sees your home to like it, there are
items that are generally not appealing to every buyer.
In this section, we will look at typical buyer
turnoffs that many sellers face before marketing their homes.
These are items that a buyer will notice and either reject the
home as a potential purchase or if they do make an offer, the offer
price will be a lot less than if the problem had been corrected.
Problem #1: The house smells.
Odor is one of the most unnoticeable features of a home to a seller and
one of the most noticeable features that a buyer remembers. Do you
have pets? Do you smoke in the house? Do you sweat all over the floor (believe it or not, this is a problem for some
home owners, especially those that do sit-ups in a workout room with
little ventilation)? Make sure you use a disinfectant and wipe
down the walls, mop the floors and squeegee the windows. Steam
clean the carpets or use a carpet deodorizer before you vacuum the
floor. Finally, make sure you change your air filter in the air
conditioner. Failure to do so only pushes that trapped odor back
through the home.
Problem #2: The home has no curb appeal.
Curb appeal, as described in other sections, is defined as the
attractiveness your home has from the front. Good curb appeal will
compel buyers to see more. Bad curb appeal will compel buyers to
continue driving. Follow the tips outlined in the
Outside Preparations section to enhance your
home's curb appeal.
Problem #3: The home is dark inside.
When showing your property, open your window shades, pull back the
curtains and let the outside light in. Turn on the ceiling lights,
the floor lamps, and lighten up those darkened corners. Make sure
that the windows are clean (both on the inside and outside) and the
light bulbs do not have a build up of dust (especially in the
bathrooms).
Problem #4: The home does not have any
storage. This may be an obvious fact about your home, and possibly
the reason you are moving. However, most buyers will have
stuff...clothing stuff, furniture stuff, electronic stuff, and junk
stuff. They need space in which to put all of their stuff. Maximize
your home's storage capacity by clearing away any unnecessary clothing,
furniture, and other items. If you have not used it or worn it in
a year, donate it to charity, have a garage sale, or throw it away.
Make sure that your closets are neat and organized. Keep the
attic, basement, and garage free from clutter. The more open space
you have, the more storage capacity a buyer will think your home has.
Problem #5: Peeling or faded paint.
Peeling paint gives a home the appearance of being worn, old and run
down. If your paint is discolored, faded or peeling, spend the
time it takes to apply a new coat. Keep the colors neutral, fresh
and bright.
Problem #6: Plumbing problems.
If you have stains on the ceiling, a puddle of water underneath the
water heater, or even a dripping faucet, buyers do not want to inherit
the potential problems associated with bad plumbing. Plumbing
problems lead to wood rot, mildew, musty odors, bug infestation, and
the potential of additional structural or flooring problems. Also,
make sure that your faucets work properly and the sinks drain
adequately. Invest the time and money to fix the problem and the
damage created by it.
Problem #7: A hot house. Have
you ever sat in a waiting room that is a couple of degrees too warm?
You get edgy, impatient, and you cannot wait to get out of there.
Buyers will feel the same way about your home if it is too warm when
they are viewing the house. In addition, a buyer may think that
your home is not well insulated or that there are problems with your
cooling system. When having an open house, spend the few cents to
turn on the air conditioning and keep them cool and happy. The
fewer problems a buyer has to think about, the fewer reasons a buyer has
not to buy your home.
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