These 6 Things Totally Turn Buyers Off When Viewing Homes For Sale
Selling a house involves a lot more than just marketing the property and filling out paper work. It also involves getting the house ready for showings so that it is as visually appealing as possible to buyers. Unfortunately, many sellers neglect to get their homes ready for showings, and actually leave their homes a disaster.
Experienced real estate agents have seen their fair share of homes, and know what leaves buyers totally turned off. Many often wonder if the seller was even aware that there was a showing booked that day.
If you want your home to be appealing to buyers, make sure to avoid these 6 turn-offs.
1. Piles of Dirty Dishes and Countertop Clutter
Out of all the rooms in a house, the kitchen is one of the biggest selling points. The majority of home owners spend most of their time in the kitchen, whether it’s to cook, entertain, or just hang out. You could have the best upgraded cabinets and fantastic backsplash, but if your counters are covered in towels, silverware, a coffee maker, blender, and other small appliances, not only will this look unattractive, but it also shrinks the perceived amount of counter space.
Dirty dishes piled in the sink should also be washed and put away. No one wants to see last night’s spaghetti sauce caked on plates that are sitting in the sink. Make sure your counters and sink are clear before buyers walk into your home.
2. Toiletries All Over the Bathroom Sink
Buyers aren’t really interested in what brand of facial cleanser you use, nor do they want to find out the type of medication you use for your allergies. Lotion bottles, prescription meds, toothbrushes and other toiletries have no business being out in the open when buyers are scoping out your house. Buyers want to get a sense that the house is clean, so make sure to find another spot to house all of your toiletries before you book any showings.
3. Gross Smells From Pets, Smoking and Food
If buyers can accurately guess what you had for dinner or the specific breed of dog that you have just from the smell of your home, that’s not a good thing. No one wants to walk into a stinky house. Aside from visual turn-offs, certain odors can be offensive too.
If you’re a smoker, go outside when the urge to light up hits. Don’t cook fish, fried or greasy foods while the house is listed for sale, and don’t cook a meal shortly before a showing. Keep on top of pet hair, and make sure to get rid of cat litter or dog dishes before a showing.
Yes, it sounds like a pain, but taking these steps can do huge wonders to making your home more appealing, and therefore sell faster.
4. Sellers Lingering Around During Showings
In general, buyers don’t really like it when sellers stick around during showings. And they definitely don’t like it when sellers follow them around the house and make comments about the place.
Buyers typically want to have the freedom to open and close all the drawers, peek through all the doors, and make comments freely without having to feel self-conscious that the seller is eavesdropping. Buyers may rush through the showing in order to get out of a situation they may feel is uncomfortable. In this case, they may not have seen everything there is to see about the home, and might just cross it off their list.
5. Bad Curb Appeal
Aside from the photos of your listing, the exterior of the home is the first thing buyers will see. They don’t want to pull up to a home that’s got overgrown grass, landscaping that hasn’t been tended to, a severely cracked driveway, or wasp hives above the front door. Curb appeal plays a key role in the first impression that buyers get of your home.
Every detail counts. As such, you’d be well advised to make sure the grass is cut, the bushes are trimmed, and the windows and doors are clean. You might even want to consider planting a few flowers just to spruce up the exterior, if the weather permits.
6. Stained Carpeting
One of the first things that people will notice when they walk into your home is the flooring. And the last thing they want to see are disgusting stains on the carpeting. That’s an instant turn-off, and won’t exactly provide them will an overwhelming urge to continue touring the home.
Who knows what they’re stepping on, or what other little gems they’ll find lurking in each room of the house. Make sure to have any stains removed by deep cleaning the carpet before you allow any showings.
These 6 turn-offs could make or break a real estate deal. They can push buyers in the direction of a competing property, or result in a low-ball offer if a buyer actually has some interest in your home. Do yourself a favor and follow the advice of your trusted realtor about what steps you should take to get your house ready for showings, which can help open the offer floodgates.
