It's a fact that today is a buyers market and having more information and resources in hand to insure home buyers aren't running for the door is priceless.
Sometimes home sellers can get comfortable in their surroundings and may not realize they could be doing something different. Using an agent that can supply you with information such as this will insure your success.
If you're considering selling, now is the perfect time to find the "right agent" and prepare your home for sale. Having a Marketability Analysis done on your home is a very good idea. It can help you better prioritize and prepare. Our team is available to help.
In the mean time, here's 10 of the TOP quick tips that will help you avoid home buyer "turn off's"...
#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 from we towels or clothes in closets or the laundry room 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 odors. Keep in mind that some people have allergies too.
2. Dogs that Meet You at the Door or in the Driveway... Or are left in the garage and backyard too!
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. Remember, your #1 goal is to get your home "SOLD"
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. Bathrooms are the top priority, next to kitchens.
4. Dimly Lit Rooms
Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so try to brighten them up:
- Replace dim light fixtures
- 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 that cannot be removed. And don't forget the tracks - Dirt and dead bugs settle there. No one likes to see that.
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 if 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 runoff water is going.
7. Bugs
Roaches, spiders, any insect that shouldn't be in the house. Get rid of them.
8. Poor Curb Appeal
You mustgrab 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. Maybe you're saying "But I can't afford to paint?" Okay, consider just trim. But a least get that yard in tip-top shape and grab a screwdriver to fix those doors. The outside is your 1st impression.
9. Gutters with Plants Growing in Them
I'm serious. Some people never clean their gutters, and it always makes buyers wonder what else hasn't been maintained. And while you're up there, take a good look at the roof too.
10. Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings
Yes, that's right... If this is you, you'll do yourself a HUGE favor by leaving 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. If you're selling by owner, give them some space, don't hover.
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.
For More Home Selling Tips - Visit our website at www.TheGardnerTeam.net or contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation about selling your home. Working with the areas TOP Real Estate Team has many advantages. Let us share our experience with you. You'll be glad you did.
Sharing your passion for real estate community and everyday living...
Jason and Amber Gardner, The Realtor of Choice (971) 832-1234
www.TheRealtorofChoice.com / jasongardner@johnlscott.com / www.johnlscott.com/jasongardner
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Fact: Team Gardner SOLD more Sherwood real estate over ALL other agents in 2008!
Sherwood Oregon's #1 Agent, 2008 -AND- Sherwood John L. Scott's #1 Producer, 2008
