We all want people to fall in love with our home and for it to sell quickly, because well, we live there, and we love it, so why shouldn’t someone else? But often that isn’t the case. A home might be on the market for a couple of months with no takers because there is something about it that turns people off.
The following are four common homebuyer turnoffs to keep in mind when you’re listing and preparing your home for sale.
1. It’s listed way above market price
Price is a critical factor and one of the top tips for selling your home. If it’s listed too high above market value, then it will put off interested buyers. Sky-high price means it is likely to sit on the market for a while with no interest and the longer it sits there, the more red flags it will raise for potential buyers.
You should aim to list it just above market value to give you some wiggle room for negotiations. If you’re not sure what the market value is then ask your agent for comparable sales in the area or bring in a professional valuer.
2. It smells funny
You may not even notice that lingering smell of cabbage from last night’s dinner, but you can be pretty sure that potential buyers will pick up on it straight away.
Here are six scents that could drive your buyers away:
- Strong food smells - soy sauce, fish, curry, garlic, onions, cabbage
- Cigarette smoke, burnt toast or any burnt food
- Pet odors
- Mold and must
- Blocked drains
- Bleach
Clean, simple scents are best and do overdo it with multiple plug-ins or air freshener diffusers. Merely opening the window and letting in the fresh air can do wonders for getting rid of lingering odors.
If you want to boost the chances of someone buying your home, then spray vanilla air freshener to neutralize odors and leave a pleasant lingering fragrance that will make people want to live in your home.
3. There are signs of pets
We mentioned above that pet odors can be an issue for some homebuyers. Pets at the open home or just telltale signs that they live there can be more of a problem. Not all buyers like animals, so even if Fluffy is an adorable little dog, it’s a good idea to take her with you while the open home is happening.
Make sure you tidy away her bedding and food bowl, so they’re out of sight. You want to give the impression the house is pet free.
If you have time before the open home for a thorough deep clean of the carpet and floors, then this is recommended, so your house smells fresh.
4. The home isn’t presented well
You do need to make an effort with the presentation when listing your home for sale. Whether you do it yourself or get a professional stager, staging your home is critical to attracting interested buyers through the door.
Even a tired and drab home can look fantastic with new furniture, rugs and other modern accessories. Excellent presentation for photos and viewings will help it stand out from the crowd and attract buyer attention. If there are small cosmetic repairs that need doing, then these should be a top priority.
If you don’t want to pay for a professional stager, then there are four things you need to do:
- Deep clean the house, so it looks spotless and smells fresh
- Remove excess furniture to make the home feel more prominent
- Depersonalize by tidying away personal items (this will help potential buyers to imagine themselves living there)
- Add a vase of fresh flowers to make a good impression on buyers, they don’t cost a lot and will instantly add cheer to any room.
Now you know what to avoid when selling your home you can take stock and make a few simple changes before you list it. Good luck!