When potential buyers drive up to your home, they are full of hope. They imagine themselves baking in the kitchen or watching their kids play in the yard. They are truly excited to find a home!
Then they take a closer look and see the mess in the driveway or the peeling paint on the roofline. They quickly decide to keep driving because the exterior of your home tells them that there may be even more issues inside.
Is your house warm, inviting, and pleasing to the eye?
These buyers have already researched your neighborhood and know your asking price; when they drive past your home, they are looking to see whether your property has the “it factor” or the “ick factor.”
So where do most sellers go wrong? Here are the four main mistakes that sellers make when selling their homes:
1. They ignore curb appeal. How your home appears from the curb is extremely important. If your home looks inviting from the outside, it will make a good first impression on potential buyers. If your yard is maintained, your garden is manicured, and the paint is fresh, potential buyers will take an interest in your home. If not, they may think that the interior of your home is unkempt, too, and decide to move on.
2. They crowd the buyer. Don’t stick around for home showings — leave. Take yourself out of the picture. You need to give the buyers a chance to picture themselves in your home. Give them space to discuss your home and make a decision. Buyers get extremely uncomfortable when they arrive at a home showing to discover the homeowner still lurking about.
3. They don’t clean up. You need to declutter your home. Prospective buyers don’t like the lived-in look. Clutter is distracting and makes it difficult for buyers to picture themselves in your home. A mess can often hide certain aspects of your home that would entice someone to buy it. When you sell your home, you need to keep it tidy. Tuck away all of your family photos and knick-knacks. Clear off the countertops and tables. Try to create as many open clear spaces as you can. Ask yourself, “Is my home warm and inviting? Is it pleasing to the eye?”
4. They let odors linger. If you smoke or have a pet in your home, there are definitely odors in your home. You might be used to the smell, but others will definitely notice any scents left by your pet or cigarette odors. If your dog has had an accident (or two) in your house, you may need to use special cleaning solutions or a steam cleaner to clean your floors. Rugs and carpets might just need to be replaced. Vinegar will work as a cleanser on most floor surfaces.
If you smoke, make sure you smoke outside or near doors and windows as much as possible. Nonsmokers are extremely sensitive to the smell of smoke. If there is a heavy smell in your home due to years of smoking, you may need to contact a professional cleaning company that specializes in removing those types of odors. Don’t forget your curtains and shades; those fabrics will collect the tar and resin from the smoke.
Fortunately, these four common mistakes are easy to avoid. If you have any other questions for us about preparing your home for the market, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!
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