Did you know that a home buyer will make a decision on a house within the first 10 seconds? Whether your house is on the market for sale or not, you'll want to avoid these problems:
1. Odors
Number one on the no-no list...house odors. If you have pets or smoke, your house may smell and you won't even notice it. Ask a friend or someone that will be brutally honest with you to give your house the ole sniff test. Don't get defensive when they tell you the truth. You do want to sell your house, right?
Often buyers with allergies will react to air fresheners. Use them carefully. My advice is to use the Biocide Systems Room Shocker to help eradicate odors. Cleaning or replacing carpet may also be necessary.
2 . Eager Pets
Some people are frightened or irritated by dogs that are greeting them at the car or door. I speak from experience. My two are always "happy" to greet someone. Although they are harmless, new guest sometimes won't get out of the car until we can get them under control. Of course they are "little angels" and obey all commands until we have quest, but when someone arrives, they lose their hearing. What's that all about?
If it's possible, remove pets from the house during a showing. If that's not possible, contain them in a crate for their own safety and out of respect for the potential buyers. Placing pets in a room or garage and then asking buyers not to open the door to that area is a bad idea. Would you buy a house you can't inspect?
3. Yucky Bathrooms
It's amazing to me how sellers don't see the grime in their own bathrooms. It's an instant turn off, so scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels. Make them shine. You either want to sell your home or not. This extra work is a must.
4. Dark Rooms
Do anything that you can to brighten up your space. Increase the bulb wattage in your lamps/light fixtures, remove dark heavy window treatments, repaint with lighter colors, clean the ceiling fixture globes, trim any landscaping that blocks natural light coming in from the windows. Also, clean the windows inside and out to let in as much natural light possible.
5. Wallpaper
Wallpaper, no matter how beautiful to you, is very taste specific and most buyers (even if they like wallpaper) will rarely like what you've chosen. Since your goal is to appeal to the largest pool of buyers, then removing it and replacing with paint is in your favor. Yes, it's a lot of work, but buyers know that and will deduct "points" in considering your house or even worse, may go to the next house that is move in ready. (This applies to borders as well)
6. Damp Basements
Damp basements have odors. It's a huge red flag to a buyer and they will automatically think that the foundation leaks! Be sure to check that any underground drains are not clogged, that the rain gutters are working and that the downspouts are diverting the rainwater away from the house. Most of the time the dampness will be due to one of these problems.
7. Bugs
Get rid of them! Knock down the spider webs, exterminate for roaches, ants, etc. It's that simple.
8. Bad Curb Appeal
You never have a second chance to make a great first impression. Heard that before? Well, it's the truth! If you want to sell your house, you have to get the buyer through the door. If your yard is unkempt or you have peeling paint, they might refuse to even get out of the car.
9. Full Gutters (with plants growing in them)
Really? Do I even have to explain this one? Remember the drainage problems in # 6? If you have plants in your gutters, a buyer will wonder what else you haven't maintained. Clean the gutters!
10. Sellers That Stay For Showings
Yes, your house is special. You've put a lot of special features in to it and want to be sure that the buyer knows all the fine points of your house. Leave the house when it's being shown. A buyer needs to be comfortable opening your closets and cabinets. They need to be able to linger in the space long enough to imagine themselves living there. If your hanging around, they will feel uncomfortable making comments and feel rushed to leave. Not a good selling tactic.
If your selling by owner, give them some space and don't hover around.
In Summary
Most of these issues can be corrected without a great expense. Before your house gains the reputation as the house with the loud wallpaper or the house that smells, these problems need to be solved. You want agents to show your house. There are a lot of houses out there for them to sell and you want yours on the buyers list, right?
Give us a call for a home staging consultation. It's very affordable and you can DIY the work yourself or hire us to help you out.
Contact us at http://www.southern-staging.com/
770-251-0608 home/office
770-301-4786 cell
