8 Things That Will Turn Off Potential House Buyers

Brent Palmer
Published on March 14, 2016

8 Things That Will Turn Off Potential House Buyers

Before you advertise your home, you need to look around for a few things that might be somewhat discouraging to your buyer. They will without a doubt be comparing many houses and will readily push yours aside with the slightest provocation. You need to be aware of some common things that turn off potential buyers. 1. Carpet over hardwood floors Many people really like hardwood floors as they add a wonderful design element to your house. They’re also very easy to clean and don’t retain dirt like carpets do. Many sellers make the mistake of covering up their hardwood floors and opting to display carpet. Ensure you show off your gleaming hardwood floors and leave the buyer to decide if they want them covered or not. 2. Using a bedroom for other purposes All home buyers are interested in the number of bedrooms the house they intend to buy has. If you converted a bedroom into something like a home office, it is advisable to revert it back before you put the home on the market. The buyer may not find the home office as useful as you found it. Not only does it impact a buyers ability to visualize a living space but offices are often a source of clutter. 3. Turning your kid’s room into a miniature theme park Since children are very creative and free spirited, many parents turn their bedrooms into something that resembles a Disneyland ride. This turns off buyers as they might have teenage kids who do not require all the fantastic decorations. Let the new house owner have the opportunity to decide what to do with each of the bedrooms. 4. Dirty dishes in the sink House buyers are very sensitive about how you have been taking care of your house before they buy it. They need to see the house at its best so please be sure your kitchen is as clean as it can possibly be. A dirty sink always sends the wrong impression and is surprisingly common. If you are caught up in a dirty kitchen, it is wise to hold off the buyer till you tidy it up. 5. Make buyers take off their shoes No, it’s not rude to ask buyers to remove their shoes when entering your home. Please let me know prior to holding an open home, or viewing with a potential buyer, if you would prefer visitors to take their shoes off at the door before entering. 6. Pet toys laying around the house One common thing that is over looked when readying your house for an open home or buyer visit is your pet. If you have a pet then make sure everything like dog food and pet toys are stored away properly. Having dog toys laying around in random rooms in the house may not be as appealing to a buyer who isn’t as pet friendly as you are. 7. Having a family room in the garage Just because you decided to use the garage as an extra game/family room doesn’t necessarily mean your buyer wants the same setup. Make sure if you’ve changed your garage set up in any way you revert it back to a basic garage with no clutter so they can visualize what they would like to do with it. 8. Light fixtures It is true that a beautiful chandelier can increase the intensity of your room. It can, however, contribute to turning off a potential buyer. If you have a sophisticated light fixture, it is important that you remove it before putting your house on the market and keep it away until you have another house. Again this goes back to how neutral you’re keeping the house. This way you can keep from clashing stylistically with any potential buyers. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the above advice, as I am more than happy to call round at a time that suits to discuss any queries you have regarding the sales and marketing process of your home.

About the Author: The above article on 8 Things That Will Turn Off Potential House Buyers was written and provided by Brent Palmer, a local leader in the field of Richmond and Nelson Real Estate sales, marketing, advanced technology for home selling, and social media.

You can contact Brent Palmer here, or at 027 544 9921. He has helped many people buy and sell homes in the Nelson, Stoke and Richmond areas for years, and would love the opportunity to help you as well.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a real passion for helping people sell their homes in our Nelson and Tasman Region, as well as the marketing, social media & advanced technology for home selling that goes along with it. I’d love to have the opportunity to sit down with you discuss how we can work together to get you the best price.

I help people buy and sell real estate in the following Nelson and Tasman  towns  & neighbourhoods: Wakefield, Brightwater, Hope, Appleby, Redwood Valley, Mapua, Stoke, Tahunanui, Atawhai and of course, Richmond and Nelson City.

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