When you’re preparing your home to sell it, you have to think in terms of your audience – the homebuyer. Even if it seems minor, most buyers don’t want to purchase a house that’s littered with a slew of “honey-do” projects. That’s why little problems with your house could get it stuck on the market for months if you don’t take the time to fix them now.
Getting stuck on the market means you might have to drop the price, buyers start thinking there’s a big problem because it’s not moving and suddenly your nice quick home sale is getting unnecessarily complicated.
What’s wrong with your house that buyers aren’t going to want to fix? Here’s a list of things that might seem little but can be a big turn off for potential homebuyers. So if you want to avoid getting stuck on the market, mark these items off your pre-sale checklist.
Landscaping Issues
Dead spots on the lawn, brown flowers, and spindly trees are all things that will turn off a buyer from your house. Don’t forget that the first impression is made as the buyer drives up, so don’t let their impression be a bad one.
Seed or fertilize your lawn, prune shrubs and tidy your garden before you put that “for sale” sign in the yard.
Beat Up Floors
If your floors need some work, do it before you let any potential buyers come into it. If you’re lucky enough to already have hardwood floors in the house, ensure they’re in pristine condition.
Buyers much prefer hardwood floors to carpet, but that doesn’t mean they’ll accept worn down floors that could use a good sanding and staining.
Peeling Paint
Dingy baseboards, chipped doors, or scratched walls are all things that scream “unkempt home”. Do yourself a favor and repaint any baseboards or molding with a fresh coat of white. You’d be surprised at the face-lift it can give any room.
Touch up your doors, too. Lots of clean, white wood can make a huge difference in a buyer’s impression of the home.
Features With A Big Impact
You might think the big crack in your driveway isn’t that big of a deal, but it creates an image for your house: what else is in need of repair? Re-asphalt the driveway and seal cracks in the sidewalk or walkway going up to your front door. A seamless entrance will impress any buyer.
Clutter
Inside or out, clutter can prevent a homebuyer from being able to image themselves in your home. Little things like too many nicknacks and a refrigerator littered with papers can turn off a potential buyer. It’s more than worth your time to not just clean up but clear out anything unnecessary in your home before you put it on the market. Decluttering also makes your home look and feel bigger, so why wouldn’t you put in just a little more effort to make a big difference?
Plumbing Issues
Whether it’s a pinhole leak under the bathroom sink or a constantly dripping kitchen faucet, buyers are going to notice. This is particularly important if you have a stainless steel sink that shows water stains.
Take a quick tour through your house and double check every faucet to ensure nothing is drip-drip-dripping. The professionals at Imagine Plumbing & Appliance Ltd have seen their fair share of botched DIY jobs that cost even more money to fix later so if you have a plumbing problem, take it to the experts first.
Minor Cosmetic Issues
Outdated or cracked light switch plates, faucets, or doorknobs can quickly bring down the appeal of a house. Spend a few hundred dollars ensuring everything is new, clean, and up-to-date and you’ll be surprised at how much better your home is received on the market.
Minor repairs only cost a minor amount out of pocket and you’re guaranteed to see the return in your selling price. It’s much cheaper to complete a few projects than it is to have your house sit on the market and endure a price cut just to get more interest.
Another way to ensure your home sale runs smoothly is to work with a real estate agent. From negotiating tactics to marketing power, an agent can help get you out of sticky real estate situations and close your home sale.
To learn more about what an agent can do for you, sit down and chat with one of the experts at First Team. Find an agent near your on our site or reach out and we’ll match you with a top producer in your area.
Email us at clientservices@firstteam.com
Call us at 888-870-1142
This guest post was written by Anita Ginsburg. Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO and often writes about home, family, real estate and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family when she isn’t writing.
