Buyer Turnoffs
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 ha= te the house but can't live without the furniture, and everyone in between. Bu= yers 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 sel= lers 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 th= an if the problem had been corrected.
Problem #1: The house smells. Odor is one of the most unnotice= able 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 be= fore 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 descr= ibed 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. Problem #3: The home is dark inside.<= /b> 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 (bo= th on the inside and outside) and the light bulbs do not have a build up of du= st (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. Howev= er, 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 gar= age 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, fa= ded 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 ceili= ng, 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 problem= s. Also, make sure that your faucets work properly and the sinks drain adequat= ely. Invest the time and money to fix the problem and the damage created by it.<= /p>
Problem #7: A hot house. Have you ever sat in a waiting room t= hat is a couple of degrees too warm? You get edgy, impatient, and you cannot wa= it 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 y= our home is not well insulated or that there are problems with your cooling sys= tem. When having an open house, spend the few cents to turn on the air condition= ing 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.