10 things that could be turning buyers off your home
Selling your house can be an intimidating waiting game, especially in today’s market environment. It currently takes an average of 84 days to sell your home with private treaty, but take that with a pinch of salt as every sale has its own timeline. The last thing you want to be doing as a seller in a buyer’s market is turning them off your property, however you may be doing just that, without even knowing it. If you are left wondering why there are no offers left on the table, here are 10 things that are most likely to scare off prospective buyers.
1. Dirty home
It might seem obvious, but neglecting to present your home properly could be the main reason people are rushing out the door after your home open. A good real estate agent will always encourage you to present your home so that it’s easy for buyers to visualise themselves living in the property. In a buyer’s mind, an untidy, messy home suggest the property hasn’t been looked after and could need maintenance or repairs.
2. Bad odours
If you have pets, ensure that you clear away any pet paraphernalia and make sure pets are not present at the home open. There is nothing worse than a stranger walking into your home and being riddled with stinky odours, especially if you want them to buy your property. Buyers are not going to be able to visualise the property as their own, if they can smell what you had for dinner the night before. Ensure you air out the house and lace it with fresh neutral smelling fragrances.
3. The layout
This is where a seller’s agent can really come in handy. They know what it is that buyers want in a property and can help you set your home up to reflect this. A poorly laid out home can take away the property’s full potential. Make sure the area feels spacious, is free of clutter and unnecessary furniture. The more minimalist the space feels, the more room there is for the buyer to imagine their own belongings and furniture in that space.
4. Sellers at the home open
There is nothing more off-putting than a clingy seller. Buyers really don’t want you following them around and putting in your two cents at every crevice. Do yourself and your agent a favour by letting them do their job and make yourself scarce when it comes to home opens.
5. Weathered fixtures
Outdated door handles, lights, fans, as well as cracked ceilings and walls are all massive deal breakers for buyers. Buyers will pay more attention to a home where less work is needed, therefore, swapping your old fixtures for modern ones is the ticket in the right direction to landing a higher priced sale.
6. Unmaintained garden
Most of the time, no one wants to get straight into gardening mode as soon as they buy a house. A cluttered or messy garden can be a hindrance to your property’s overall appearance, after all a garden is meant to compliment the house and vice versa. Putting in the time to mow the lawns and de weed, even in a small courtyard, can do more good for your property than you think.
7. Personal items
Buyers don’t want to form any sort of connection or relationship to the seller. Creating a blank canvas for interest buyers will allow them to freely imagine what their lives would look like in your property. You should remove any photographs, outrageous artwork, certificates or documents that reveal you or your family’s identity. Still ensure the property feels homely, but anything that embodies an emotional connection between you and your property should be hidden.
8. Uncomfortable temperature
It’s human nature to have your mood affected by the environment that you’re in, especially if you are in a situation that involves decision making. Being too hot or too cold can ultimately leave you in the wrong frame of mind. You want your buyers to stay at your home open as long as possible, so when they look back, they think about the positives and are not focussed on thinking about how cold they were that they wanted to leave. An uncomfortable temperature during a home open can also suggest there is a larger problem that needs fixing.
9. No light
Natural light is a winner when it comes to home opens. It automatically lifts the atmosphere and changes the ambience to make it more inviting. Open up as many windows and blinds as you can and if there are rooms with not much natural light, add a lamp.
10. The price is not right
Budget is a driving factor when buying a home, and if your property does not fit the buyer’s criteria, they will not even bother attending the home open. It is important you set a price for your property that matches the current market and reflects what the property is worth. Using a sellers agent will take the guesswork out of this and ensure both parties remain level-headed when it comes to the negotiation process.
SOURCE: www.reiwa.com.au
