“Declutter and stage your home to get a higher sales price”….yeah, yeah, we know! Instead of looking at all of the things you should do in preparation for selling your home, let’s talk about the things you should one hundred percent not do.
We put together a list of five things that home buyers hate that will cause your home to sit on the market longer and ultimately cost you money.
#1.
Aggressive Odors
Does your house smell like smoke or pets? You need to get that taken care of before any potential buyer steps foot in your home. Not only are those odors offensive, but they will also make the buyer worry about how much money it will cost to remedy them, which will then take your home out of contention.
What may surprise many homeowners is that buyers don’t care for homes that are too perfumy either. While it may not create the level of repulsion that pets and cigarettes do, when a house is too fragrant, it makes the house hunters rush through to avoid a headache.
Scents that buyers rarely complain about are household cleaners and baked cookies, and these scents make the buyers feel comfortable and happy. Plus, buyers love a clean home, so the scent of cleaning products is a win-win!
#2.
An Overdone Theme
We get it. You like the beach. Really though, having an over-the-top theme in your home where every room has photos, memorabilia, knick-knacks, and whatever else you can find in the theme of your choice can be a major turn-off.
Prior to listing your home for sale, you should remove pretty much anything related to a personal interest. It doesn’t matter what the theme is, if there is too much of it, buyers will see it as a turn-off since it makes it much more challenging to envision their own belongings in that space.
#3.
An Uncomfortable Temperature
Keeping the air on all day in the summer and the heat on all day in the winter may not be ideal, but buyers do not like to walk into a home that does not make them feel comfortable.
In the hot summer months, buyers will expect to feel relief in the form of cool air when they walk into your home. The same goes for the winter, it’s cold outside, and they want to warm up! If the temperature is uncomfortable, they will be unhappy, which leads to them thinking negatively of your home and ultimately buy something else.
#4.
Pets
It wasn’t until I became a real estate agent that I realized how many people do not like animals. You need to remove your pets from your home during showings. While some buyers will fall in love with your dog, cat, iguana, or whatever pet you have, many others will not.
It doesn’t matter how well behaved they are. Just remove the pet. If that is not an option, you should get a crate to put them in during showings so that they will at least be out of the way. If you go this route, make sure to leave a note so that the buyer is not unpleasantly surprised.
#5.
There’s No Gentle Way To Phrase This One…
Homebuyers do not like when the seller is present during the showing… it’s awkward. So please don’t feel the need to stick around when buyers come to take a look at your house.
If you are worried about the safety of your belongings, that is understandable. Your safest option will always be to simply remove any valuables before you even list the home for sale. You can also ask your real estate agent to put together some sort of safety protocol before showings, to help ensure nothing will be taken.
However, even if you have the best intentions, lurking behind a potential home buyer as they tour the home is not a good idea, and you absolutely should not do it.
Are you ready to sell?
We’d love to give you even more insight into the dos and don’ts of selling your home. Let’s get together to discuss a strategy for getting your home sold quickly!