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Are You Turning Home Buyers Off?

January 7, 2020 by Megan Gullotta Leave a Comment

It’s 2020! We’re already approaching the hottest time of year to sell! If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market this Spring or Summer, make sure these few things ARE NOT going on in your home! aaaaand if they are, be ready to account for them in your list price!

When your garage is anything but a garage

Yes. I know. You needed a 4th bedroom! Well, your buyer is most likely looking for a garage. Out here in Southern California, the Summers are getting hotter; and there is nothing worse than getting in your car and have your legs burn from hot leather seats! Transitioning your garage into anything but a garage is going to turn off a good chunk of potential buyers. Do your best to keep the garage for car storage, holiday decor, and storing other household items.

Filth

I’m not just referring to the dirty dish pile up in your sink. If you begin showing your home before you’ve had sufficient time to clean all major areas of the house, you’re going to turn buyers off. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shown a home with the toilet seat left up and a black rim around it… GROSS! It just leaves a bad… taste in your mouth about the home. If it’s in your budget, leave it to a pro and have a house cleaner come spiff the place up before showings begin.

Unpleasant Smells

This is a sure way to get buyers to come and go quick. I am a HUGE animal lover, but the lingering smell of any kind of pet is a huge turn off. We also must address cigarette smoke. Smoke penetrates every part of the home… the carpet, the drapes, the furniture, paneling, EVERYTHING. It is also hard to remove without professional help. If your home smells of either of these things, start the remediation process now to get your home ready for sale.

Bedroom conversion

Here in Southern California, buyers are generally moving because they need more space. Once again, you may have really needed an office and not a 3rd bedroom. That’s okay, as long as it can easily be converted back to a bedroom. If you’ve added permanent furniture (desk, shelving, etc.), that may look like too much work to convert it back to a bedroom for potential buyers. If the home can’t accommodate the buyers immediate needs, they will likely move on to the next one that can.

Old Fixtures

Look, I have nothing against original homes. But if you’re wanting top dollar for your home, you should know, today’s buyers want the latest and greatest. Sometimes swapping out some old fixtures can really jazz a house up. Maybe a new, modern porch light to replace that 1960s style one. Orrrr adding some modern looking handles to your kitchen cabinet that didn’t have any (you know, the oak style cabinet ones). BUT WAIT! Before you go putting lipstick on a pig, consult your realtor! If you have done zero upgrades in the last 20+ years and go adding random new fixtures to your home, it could be a waste of money. Give me a call and well go over your best options.

Carpet over hardwood

Did you know 80% of buyers prefer hardwood over carpet? It’s true… carpet is a dying species. Millennial’s (and their dogs) want a solid surface, its more sanitary and easy clean up! If you’re planning to sell, it may be in your best interest to swap out that old smelly carpet for some manufactured wood flooring. Once again, before you go replacing all the flooring in your house, lets talk and make sure you’re going to see a return on that investment!

All in all, the house is yours… FOR NOW. You should love your home and enjoy your time spent in it. Just keep in mind, one day you may have to sell. So if you’re thinking about doing something funky or unique with it, keep in mind that may effect the resale value!

Check out this weeks Open Houses! ⤵️⤵️

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