There was a time that homes would sell within several hours with very little effort. These days and in most markets, it takes hard work to get your home SOLD. Even the most meticulously maintained home will require some preparation before listing it. A ton of money doesn’t necessarily need to be spent, but there are a few things to be cognizant of that may turn a potential buyer away. Below are some of the biggest home buyer turnoffs and ways to address them.
1. The most common criticism of a home that buyers will proclaim is that the home feels too “dated.” There are several variables that make a home feel this way. Even if your home was built in the 1970’s, it shouldn’t feel that it stayed in the 70’s. Wallpaper, light fixtures, kitchen counter-tops, and more are the most common tell tales. Furniture also can make the home feel older than it might actually be. As a seller, it may be wise to strip the wallpaper and update the light fixtures. Older furniture can also be swapped out or put in storage.
2. Another common buyer turnoff is the lack of space or rather abundance of clutter. The longer you’ve lived in a home, the more natural it is to have accumulated “things,” along the way. My four bedroom home once started out with only a master bedroom and a guest room filled with furniture. I now have a master bedroom, guest room with an additional desk and armchair, a nursery complete with twin bed, dresser, arm chair, and changing table, and a home office with desk, child’s kitchen set, a random dresser, and yet another arm chair. The more filled your home is with extra furniture and “stuff,” the more the typical buyer will lose interest. I always recommend to sellers to thin out their homes and either put stuff in storage or get rid of things. If you’re not going to move it into the new house; move it, sell it, donate it, or trash it!
3. Some buyers won’t even want to step foot into a home that looks or feels dirty. A buyer’s evaluation of “dirtiness” starts on the outside as soon as they begin their approach to the home. It could be equated to how the yard is maintained, the home’s siding, wood trim, and then carry inward to the home.
The inconvenient part of selling is that a showing can be sprung on you with just a moment’s notice. It’s important to have clothes in the hamper, dishes washed, and daily toiletries hidden. When your home is for sale it needs to look the best and cleanest that it’s ever looked!
4. One of the last biggest turnoffs for a home-buyer is concerning odors. Purchasers tend to have a keen sense of smell when they first walk into a home. Psychological studies would show that smell, more so than any other senses, have a strong correlation to one’s memory. A bad smell can immediately recall negative memories. Or a smell that the seller has become accustomed to can simply be repulsive to somebody else. Many of today’s buyers have significant allergies to dogs, cats, smoke, and other items around the home. The odor of the house may immediately turn away a prospective buyer. If you have older carpet (or furniture) that carries a smell, replace it with new. If you have newer carpet, at least get it shampooed and cleaned. Also consideration for some sort of HVAC air clean out to circulate fresh air may be wise. Candles and incense won’t mask the smells so look for options to clean or replace instead.
When your house is listed for sale, it’ll be put under a microscope. People will scrutinize every inch of the home. Knowing some of the most common turn offs for an average home-buyer will better equip your home to compete with all the other homes on the market. These are just a few of the common ones that can easily be rectified with minimal expense. Take a careful look at your home and/or request the services of a professional to help evaluate conditions. Feel free to share some of your biggest turn offs in the comments below.
By Tommy Sibiga on Homes.com
Top 10 Home Showing Tips
How to Show Your Home to BuyersWhen you show your home, you want to engage the buyer emotionally because the decision to buy is based more on emotions, and less on logic. Give the buyer permission to say, "Yes, I want to buy this home," by
Besides, there will be plenty of time after the deal is signed to talk about the drawbacks.
1) The Gracious Welcome
Although the buyer is a guest in your home, you want the buyer to imagine owning the home. You don't want to make the buyer feel like an intruder.
Don't expect the buyer to remove her shoes, unless you are selling to a buyer for whom religious or cultural reasons mandate it. Otherwise, the presumption is insulting.
Leave the house. The buyer won't talk about the house in front of you or open doors with you standing there.
Don't pressure or hurry the buyer. Tell the buyer to take all the time that is needed.
Leave a bowl of wrapped candy or other treats near the front door with a small note thanking the buyer for coming to see your home.
2) Check the Temperature
Now is not the time to worry about your utility bill. If it's cold enough to wear a sweater to stay warm, turn on the heat.
If it's warm outside, turn on the air conditioning. It's better to heat or cool the house a degree or two warmer / colder than usual and then set the temperature at normal. This prevents the heat or A/C from kicking on when the buyer is present, because some HVAC systems are loud.
You want the temperature inside to be comfortable and to give the buyer more of a reason to linger, especially on hot or cold days!
3) Create a Mood
Light a fire in the fireplace.
Make it romantic by placing two champagne glasses on a nearby table.
Turn on soft music. I used to play Enya until one day I heard it piped in at a mortuary.
If you have water fountains, turn them on. They are especially useful for drowning out traffic noise.
4) Play Down the Scent
Many people are allergic to certain scents and deodorizers, so don't spray the air or plug-in air fresheners.
Don't burn candles or spray perfume in the bedroom for the same reason.
If weather permits, open the windows -- if there is too much noise outside, close them.
If you're going to bake cookies or simmer spices such as cinnamon in water on the stove, put out munchies so buyers aren't disappointed. More than one buyer has said, "Oh, darn, I thought there were cookies in here!"
5) Play Up the Visual
If you have seasonal photographs showcasing flower gardens, leaves bursting in color or a snow-covered lawn twinkling from street lights, then display them in a prominent position.
Open all the window coverings to let in light.
Keep blinds partially closed that otherwise show undesirable outdoor scenery such as a dilapidated fence or a nearby structure that obstructs views.
6) Light up the House
Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights.
Brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spot lights on the floor behind furniture.
Turn off TV.
7) Encourage Touching
Drape sensuous fabrics such as velvet or silk throws over chair arms.
Leave doors slightly ajar.
If you have carpeting, vacuum in one direction.
8) Provide Thoughtful Cards
Attach printed cards to items and in rooms that provide further information the buyer might miss or might not know. You have so little time to make an impression.
If you have an antique chandelier in your dining room, put a card on it that discloses its age and other important details.
If you have removed the washer and dryer from the laundry room, attach a card to the wall describing the room.
If your basement stairs are steep, attach a card to the railing that cautions buyers to watch their step.
Take care when placing a card that says: "Not included in the sale." That will make a buyer want it, but you can play that later to your advantage.
9) Top It Off With Food
The best way to entice buyers to linger and notice even more details about your home is to offer them food. You don't need to cater a lunch, but finger sandwiches, cookies, soft drinks, water, desserts, all are welcome.
Set out serving utensils, if needed.
Provide plates, cups and napkins. They can be paper products.
In plain sight, provide a waste receptacle.
10) Encourage Buyer Feedback
Near the snacks, leave pens and a stack of preprinted questionnaire cards or a guest book to sign.
Buyers will feel obligated to respond to your request after being fed.
The showing feedback you receive will be invaluable.
Allow buyer anonymity.
By Elizabeth Weintraub on About Home
Buyers will feel obligated to respond to your request after being fed.
The showing feedback you receive will be invaluable.
Allow buyer anonymity.
By Elizabeth Weintraub on About Home
Take a look at the stats for Broward County Residential Sales in September 2015
Real estate sales statistics for September 2015, show the number of sold homes increase by 15.58% compared to the same time last year. The average sales price increased by 1.51% to $332,104 for the month of September. The median sales price increased by 5.03% to $290,000, and market times dropped by 1 day compared to September 2014.
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