Toronto real estate agent Matt Dawson of Chestnut Park Real Estate has seen some amazing blunders by sellers. Here's his take on some of the biggest buyer turn-offs, many of which could be avoided -- or at least mitigated-- with a little care and forethought.
1 Wacky paint colours
Some buyers can overlook strange decor choices and picture the house painted white or in tasteful neutrals, but many can't. Furthermore, colour can have a strong effect on mood, both positively and negatively. Don't take the chance.
2 Dirt
A house for sale should be as near to spotless as you can make it. Particularly in kitchens and bathrooms, grimy grout, stained countertops, dishes in the sink and crunchy floors are definite turn-offs. Do at least a light cleaning before every showing and a more thorough clean each weekend before the open house.
3 Odd (or oppressive) smells
If you smoke, at least take it outside while the house is up for sale. In fact, any noticeable odours, whether pets, lingering cooking smells or even heavy perfume, can turn away a potential buyer. Use fabric refresher on upholstery and air fresheners or room scents where needed, but use a light hand.
4 Unkempt exterior
Curb appeal makes a very strong impression on a potential buyer, and so does lack of it. Make sure the landscaping is trimmed and the lawn mowed; plant a few annuals or cover your flowerbeds with a neat layer of mulch, staying away from the bright red colour and opting for the natural coloured mulch. If the front porch needs painting, paint it. Also, keep the outside of your home as tidy as the interior: remove kids' toys from the backyard, and keep the porch steps swept.
5 Too many pets
It's hard to believe that not everybody loves Fluffy, Fifi, and Rover as much as you do, but they don't. A dog that comes barking fiercely to the door as soon as you ring the bell, or worse, a whole pack of them, is unnerving. One cat sleeping quietly in a chair might be fine; a noisy (and possibly smelly) menagerie isn't. Try to find temporary homes for your friends, at least while the house is being shown.
5 Comments
Should be "selling my house 101"..Owning a good sized renovation/general contractor/bldg product's dealership, we've seen it all. Painting the house, leaving a neutral blank canvas for potential buyer's, is the biggest issue for realtor's. You cant say "Yuck"..and people need to know that some of the fussy buyer's look, and make judgement ONCE!..you dont get a second chance to make a "first Impression". They look at it as "what does it look like normaly, if it look's like this, and their selling". Owning two Residential, and one commercial property of my own, and doing quote's for new buyers on existing properties, to see how the price will change with reno's etc, we've seen it all. Liked the article,and more people that are selling..Pay attention!! Should be common sense, but well written & true. Excellent article for seller's. Steve R. RWS&EXT..Regina Sask.
Absolutely! Great Info! I am a "Tell It Like It Is Realtor" and I really appreciate articles like this because it helps me get my job done. After clients have read articles, mags, books and comments like these...they are ready for my suggestions and already have a good idea of the things they should do...even before I say it. I think I will print this out and send it over before I get there for my staging consultation. LOL Thanks, Dallas Noftall dallasnoftall.com
All home sellers should know this stuff (isn't this just common sense?) but sadly, they don't. How many listed homes photos show clutter everywhere, dirty dishes piled, laundry scattered about. What are they thinking? or are they? Why would anyone want to picture themselves living in a house like this? My home is currently for sale, and is kept immaculate 24/7, inside & out. If a buyer doesn't make an offer, it certainly isn't because it showed badly! SH, Enderby, BC
Whatever you do or don't do DO NOT BE SUCKED IN BY A "HOMESTAGER"!!! Our Realtor INSISTED that our home (which had been on the market only 4 weeks) required the services of a homestager to help people "understand" it... Well $200 later, we had a 2 page letter from a homestager saying essentially "people don't understand your home layout I need to stage it... that'll be $200 please for the report" with no recommendations of HOW to stage it, or even options of interior furnishings which she could possibly add... just a simple "I will need to do some work" $200 invoice. There was nothing in her expensive report that we didn't already know. The difference was, we had to pay for the priviledge of having someone insult our home!
Whatever you do or don't do DO NOT BE SUCKED IN BY A "HOMESTAGER"!!! Our Realtor INSISTED that our home (which had been on the market only 4 weeks) required the services of a homestager to help people "understand" it... Well $200 later, we had a 2 page letter from a homestager saying essentially "people don't understand your home layout I need to stage it... that'll be $200 please for the report" with no recommendations of HOW to stage it, or even options of interior furnishings which she could possibly add... just a simple "I will need to do some work" $200 invoice. There was nothing in her expensive report that we didn't already know. The difference was, we had to pay for the priviledge of having someone insult our home!