What a Buyer DOESN'T want - Part 2

In my previous post I talked a little about what buyer's are looking for in a property.  This week & next I have a little humor - taken from real life experience - about what turns off buyer's the most.  

10. Do you love your pets?  So do I, but when selling your home your pets, their possessions (toys, bowls litter boxes etc.) and most importantly their odors should be no where to be found.  When prospective buyers leave your property you don't want them to refer to your house as "the smelly dog house".

9. Jam packed with goodness. Buyers want a home to feel spacious and ample storage space is an important feature buyers want.  A huge turn off is closets that are jam packed with items, disorganized and cluttered.  If all your stuff doesn't fit in the home buyers will leave with the impression that their stuff won't either.

8. Did you run out the door this morning without washing the dishes, making the beds or tidying up the bathrooms? Selling your home is work, and keeping it "showing ready" cannot be over emphasized.  You don't want to leave the impression that you don't care, you're not motivated, or maintaining this home is too difficult. 

7. Home is all about family. But buyer's don't want to see the last 5 generations of yours on display in every room.  Use the number of bedrooms in a home as a guide for how many family pictures stay up.  Selling a 3 bedroom home? Leave up 3 family photos for the entire house - period.  This keeps the home from looking sterile yet let's a buyer imagine their family in the home. 

6. Did you fall in love with the pastel floral wall paper in your hallway?  Regardless of the print or condition of your wall paper, it is time to part ways. Shed a tear if you must, but it needs to go. Now.  (The one exception here is the kind of wall paper specifically intended to be painted.)

Stay tuned next week for more of the top buyer turn offs.

What a Buyer wants - Part 1

What does a buyer want to find in a home?

Presence & Character

When you walk into a home, it should feel like... well you walked into a home.  Not just a house.  A unique door, or an inviting place to hang you coat and leave your keys can create an entryway that will be memorable and evoke the feeling of home.

Space to Grow & Space to Gather

Think built in storage, laundry rooms, mud rooms and areas that will let a family grow into the home while staying organized and having a place for their belongings. Bonus rooms that can be used as play rooms, home offices, and guest rooms as the needs of a family change over the years also have huge appeal for buyers as do updated kitchens.  Kitchens continue to be the central gathering place in our homes.  Having a kitchen that opens to another living space such as a great room, den or dining area provides the space to gather and grow that most buyers want.

Want to see more about the top home upgrades in high demand, check this article here.