Dated kitchens, flowered wallpaper, or wood paneling from the ‘80s are obvious features that turn away buyers from a home. Let’s face it, significant updates aren’t always a possibility for sellers. But beyond older style features, sometimes there are things present in a home that disturb buyers who might have otherwise liked the house. Worst of all, they are things that sellers can address easily with zero to minimal cost. If you’re thinking of selling, don’t skip addressing these six potential “turn offs” before putting your home on the market.
1. Live animals. Even if buyers love animals, they might not love yours, as hard as it is to believe. An animal running loose in a home can be distracting, especially an energetic pet. And if there’s danger of getting bitten or jumped on, the situation could turn bad quickly. Snakes, tarantulas, and other not-for-the-faint-of-heart pets can be especially creepy for some, even if they are securely contained. The best advice is to have someone look after your pet outside of the house during showings. Even a caged, noisy animal during a showing can alter the emotional connection that a buyer forms when viewing your home.
2. Sports memorabilia. The allegiance to particular teams can fuel strong emotions. Buyers might be from a different town or maybe they attended a rival school. And if your memorabilia includes insulting statements about a buyer’s team, that could bode even worse for your sale. “Depersonalizing” your home is the way to go when selling so that people can imagine themselves there rather than you. Put away the sports memorabilia.
3. Nude décor. The tastefulness of what kind of nudity exists in paintings, posters, and sculptures could be argued as a matter of opinion. The fact remains that some people are just plain turned off by it for a variety of reasons. No matter how much your circle of friends or family likes your artwork, you’re better off tucking it out of sight for showings. Your goal is to sell the house at a neat profit, not to win approval of your art.
4. Mounted animal skins or heads. Hanging up stuffed animals that were once living is a polarizing interest. Depending on where one lives, many people aren’t accustomed to the look of animal heads or bodies mounted on walls that they may eventually own and decorate themselves. It’s just one of those things that you can’t depend on people liking if it’s not their thing. Put them away for the time being. A décor change shouldn’t stand in the way of selling your house.
5. Messy rooms. Sure, kids are messy and keeping a house clean for showings can get rough. But buyers get more excited about a home when rooms are clean, tidy, and free of junk. This isn’t rocket science. Declutter all rooms, keeps beds made and bathrooms and kitchens clean.
6. Bad odors. Buyers are not so forgiving when it comes to odors. Even if they like your house, they may move it lower on their short list because of a bad smell. Home odors can be present from a variety of sources such as cigarette smoke, certain types of cooking, mold, pet waste, dirty carpeting, or food that a toddler hid under the couch. Find friends or neighbors to walk through your home and see if they detect any odors. It’s possible you’re so used to it that you don’t notice it. Find the source and take care of it so that your home isn’t bypassed for smelliness.
Focus on showing your home as a product that needs to be marketed in its best light. If you don’t make the effort to keep buyers interested, they will seek other options. The items above only require mild inconveniences that ultimately mean the difference between an offer and lost interest. Keep your end goal in mind: Sell the house.
