Photo by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash

5 Things that Put-off Potential Buyers from Your Home

An updated kitchen and bathroom, clean and decluttered space, energy-efficient appliances, and an attractive curb appeal attract buyers to your home.

However, there are some things you don’t know that can make potential buyers have second thoughts about buying your home. Luckily for you, we have highlighted some of these things below.

Here are 5 reasons why potential buyers aren’t considering your home.

1. House is dirty

No one would invest their money in a dirty apartment. Those visible dirty and clutter will have to disappear somehow if you are eager to sell your home at a reasonable price.

Are there sticky floors, dusty furniture, dirty dishes in the sink, cobwebs in the rooms, and piles of clothes on the floor? Of course, you don’t expect a potential buyer to be happy with the mess. So, always ensure that you put in the effort to ensure that your home is clean and presentable.

If you are too busy to handle the cleaning or want to go the extra mile to ensure that your home looks presentable, consider hiring a cleaning service. They’ll ensure that your home is squeaky clean and ready for inspection.

Photo by Nathan Cowley

2. Pets

Pets are adorable, but sometimes, their odors, which can be a huge turn-off, aren’t. Imagine how a potential buyer would feel entering a home that stinks of wet dogs or fish (a common odor from dogs). Such a buyer wouldn’t be pleased and will likely want to consider another option. ‘

So, always ensure that you relocate your pets temporarily before a showing. You can keep your pets at a friend’s or family member’s place while your home is on the market. However, this may be hard for everyone, especially if the house ends up being on the market for too long. So, try hiring a trusted person to remove the pet(s) when you can’t return home to do it yourself on time for the viewing.

3. Pest issues

Do roaches throw parties in your kitchen every night? Have rodents turned your basement into its permanent abode? What about termites? Are they up there in your attic chewing away at your wood? If your home is infested with pests, buyers will consider other options. No one wants to spend money on a home filled with all sorts of pests.

So if your home has many uninvited guests, you may want to do something about it before listing it. You have two options: either try the DIY method, which can be ineffective, or call in the professionals. If you select the latter, try to get someone close by.

You can do that by searching for the term “expert pest control technicians near me.” And select from the array of options that come up. Pest control technicians have what it takes to make your pest issue a thing of the past, thus making your home more presentable to potential buyers. They can offer you advice or recommendations on how to keep your home pest free.

Photo by Max Vakhtbovych

4. Wallpaper

You may be obsessed with that 70s bamboo wallpaper in your living room or that ancient grasscloth wallpaper in your powder room, but most buyers won’t. In fact, they may find it off-putting. Remember, trends are dynamic.

What is trending today will definitely be outdated tomorrow. So ensure you inspect your home and remove those old wallpapers before listing. It’s pretty easy, especially with the right tools. However, if you cannot, due to time, or any other reason, you can hire someone.

Afterward, paint the walls in a neutral color, so it appears appealing to buyers. When you are done, it’ll look bright and attractive and not shabby and outdated.

5. Unpleasant cooking smells

Pet and cigarette odors take time to vanish. However, cooking a certain pungent meal, like stinky tofu, durian, collard greens, etc., before a showing and then doing nothing about the smell can be an issue.

Garlic, curry, fish, onions, and bacon can leave an odor that sticks around after the cooking. So if potential buyers are coming to check out your apartment, try to cook something that won’t fill the home with a bad odor. However, if you somehow cook something with a pungent smell, you can mask the odor by lighting a clean-smelling candle. Alternatively, you can turn to fragrances like cinnamon.

Conclusion

While you put in the effort to ensure that your buyers consider your home, you should also invest a similar effort to ensure that those who check it out aren’t put off. You can do that by considering the tips listed above. They’ll help encourage buyers to consider your home. Plus, they’ll also help ensure that your home is sold at a reasonable price.

Gail P
I am a beachy type of person, living in Newport Beach, and oftentimes I’ll go for a swim with my daughter. When I’m bored, I’ll help make package boxes for my little girl’s sticker company on Etsy.