Selling a Home? Avoid these Common Home Buyer Turnoffs
Are you selling your home? Did you know that even though buyers are looking for something different, the majority of them will turn around and walk back out the door if they notice one or more of these ‘Top 10 Problems'.
1. Odors
House odors are number one on the home selling uh-oh list. And narrowing it down, odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind. If you smoke indoors - the house smells like cigarettes. If you have pets, the house might smell bad - even if you don't notice it. Ask someone who doesn't live there to take a sniff, and don't get angry when they tell you the truth. Eradicate the odors so that you can present potential buyers with a clean, fresh atmosphere - not a house that's full of perfumes to cover up the other odors.
2. Dogs that Meet You at the Door or in the Driveway
Dogs frighten some people and irritate others. You'll have a much better response from showings if you control your pets - dogs, cats, whatever. You say you plan to put them in a bedroom or garage and then ask people not to open the door to that area? Bad idea. Would you buy a house you can't inspect? Of course not. Remove pets during showings if possible. If you can't, contain them in crates for their own safety and to show respect for the feelings of potential buyers.
3. Dirty Bathrooms
Grimy bathrooms are an instant turnoff. Scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels - do what it takes to make them shine. If you're serious about selling the home, the extra work is a must.
4. Dimly Lit Rooms
Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so try to brighten them up:
- Replace dim light fixtures or use higher wattage bulbs
- Install additional light fixtures
- Install (quality) sun tunnels or skylights
- Remove heavy drapes to let the light stream through windows
- Repaint some rooms with colors that reflect light
- Trim tree limbs that shadow the house
Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff. Clean them inside and out to bring in more light. If possible, replace any double-pane windows with broken seals. You can find them by looking for a foggy residue (looks like milk on the glass) that cannot be removed.
5. A House Full of Busy Wallpaper
Busy wallpaper in every room turns off most buyers, and even people who love wallpaper rarely like what you've chosen. It's a personal decorative touch that they want to select themselves. It's the masses you must appeal to when you're selling a home, so take a hard look at your wallpaper and decide it should be removed and replaced with paint. Don't paint over it, because it will be obvious that you did - and buyers know that makes removing it even more difficult.
6. Damp Basements
Dampness or damp smells in the basement throw up a red flag to buyers that the foundation leaks! Most problems we see are not caused by faulty foundations. They occur because rainwater is being diverted towards the foundation instead of away from it.
- Clogged underground drains
- No rain gutters along roofline
- Downspouts aimed the wrong way
Go outside the next time it rains and determine where that runoff water is going.
7. Bugs
Roaches, ants, spiders, any insect that shouldn't be in the house. Get rid of them!
8. Poor Curb Appeal
You must grab a buyer's interest from the curb if you want to sell the home for top dollar. Home buyers often refuse to go into a house with an unkempt yard, sagging doors or peeling paint. You say you can't afford to paint? You can get that yard in tip-top shape and grab a screwdriver to fix those doors and cleaning doesn't cost a lot of money! Clean the front door and ‘welcome' the buyers into your home.
9. Gutters with Plants and Small Trees Growing in Them
I'm serious! Some people never clean their gutters, and it always makes buyers wonder what else hasn't been maintained. Remember the drainage issue in #6? Cleaning packed gutters might help.
10. Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings
Yes, you ... leave the house during showings. Home buyers feel awkward about opening closet doors and lingering for a really good look at the house if the seller is home. Remember, hovering is for helicopters so give the buyers space when they need it most.
My Parting Words
Most of the Top 10 problems are home selling issues you can correct without spending a lot of money. Do it now, before you put the house on the market, because if your house develops a reputation among agents as the house that smells, the house with the huge barking dog or the house where the owner won't leave people alone, it will be too late. Your house will be last on their list to show potential buyers.
Lyn Sims (847)230-7324 Direct Home Search MLS Access Website
Email: LynSims@msn.com
Lyn Sims at RE/MAX Suburban is a 25+ year veteran agent who works the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago in Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Palatine, Medinah, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Schaumburg, Elgin, South Elgin and St. Charles.
Lyn Sims and The Blog Dog © 2007 - 2012 
great dog, pic and fabulous blog. I learned. I just hope the buyers on here learned as well
Dave Woodson
Lyn: I'm chuckling as I read this . . . out of your top 10 list, I usually see 6 or 7 of the items and when talking with the buyer I sometimes ask . . . do you think you got a good deal? . . . most reply with a YES!, and most tell me with a little TLC the house will be fine . . . go figure why the seller's won't do a little TLC themselves to get a little more $$$'s.
Thanks Dave for the thumbs up! I say most of those things on showing appts anyway so I thought I put them down for all to read.
Oh my gosh ....... its amazing .....you have to wonder if these people really want to sell their house, or do they get immune to those things after a while!
Some good tips Lyn. It amazes me the little things sellers will not do but still want top dollar.
Sad but true. We've seen many if not all of these. Mr Won't Leave for Showings never did sell and didn't get the message when prople would walk out because it was clear he was staying.
Ernie & Barb: It's not their immune, they refuse to see things right in front of them.
Rick: If sellers are moving because they hate the wallpaper, so will the buyers. The buyers will also "move on" from that wallpaper!
Karen: Mr. Won't Leave often ruins the largest sale he will most likely have. Thanks for your comment.
Lyn....I saw this re-posted and wanted to let you know that this is a terrific list of issues that ALL sellers should take a listen to PRIOR to putting their home on the market!!!
Excellent! May I repost on my local Oakland County, MI real estate blog? (With credit, of course!)
Thanks for reviving this oldie but goodie Marianne!