What Not To Do When Selling Your Home: 5 Buyer Turnoffs

What Not To Do When Selling Your Home: 5 Buyer Turnoffs

What Not To Do When Selling Your Home: 5 Buyer Turnoffs

Selling your home is a stressful time. No home is flawless, but there are several things you can easily do to help it sell. You want to be the house the buyers can’t stop thinking about, not the house the buyers can’t stop laughing about.
Help make it a faster sale by avoiding these 5 buyer turnoffs:

1. BE GONE—Nothing turns off a buyer more than a seller that is following them around during the home tour. Buyers can’t see the house as being theirs, if you are making it clear it is yours! Let the buyer’s agent do their job and show the home. This is a great time for you to take the dog for a walk or go run some errands, so the buyer can shop in peace. If you do happen to cross paths with a potential buyer or the buyer’s agent, a polite greeting will suffice—make all effort to get out of the house. Be polite, but don’t chat with the potential buyer or the agent. Remember, it’s the job of the buyer’s agent to get the best deal they can for their client, so any vulnerability you show (or let slip in a “friendly” conversation) could end up compromising your position and costing you thousands of dollars. It is in everyone’s best interest (especially yours!) if you are not present for any showings.
2. MAKE IT EASY—Your home has to be ready to show on a moments notice. Don’t make buyers work too hard, because they won’t. They will cross yours off their list and buy a home that didn’t require them to dance a jig just to see it. Yes, it is inconvenient, but you want to maximize the number of qualified, motivated buyers who see your home. This will make a big difference in when you sell, for how much and under what terms.
3. PET SENSE—If you have pets, be sure to immediately clean up after them. Scoop the litter box at least twice a day and sweep up pet hair daily. This includes the “gifts” left in the yard, too! It would be a shame for a buyer to step in a yard “gift” and then your house becomes referred to as the “poop house” or the buyer unknowingly tracks it back inside onto your freshly cleaned carpets. Just…no.  Just like you being gone, if your pets are inside the property when a buyer views it, it is one more barrier to them feeling “at home” inside the property. While not always possible, make every effort to take the pets with you when a showing is scheduled. If it is not possible, be sure the pets are secured. Don’t let the pets become an unwelcome distraction or barrier to selling.
4. STINK BAIT—While your home is on the market is not the time to cook fish or other stinky meals that create long-lasting odors. You don’t want to be “the fish house,” either.
5. CLUTTER BUG—Nothing distracts a buyer like clutter. They are trying to look at the house, but the clown collection room will be all they remember. Now you’re the “clown house.” Collect all the knick knacks, personal photos and extraneous items that are not going with you in the move or that you do not need in the immediate future. Sell, giveaway, store or toss those items. You’re going to do it before you move anyway; you might as well do it now, so you can move sooner!

Overall, your home’s attributes must outweigh the negatives for a buyer. An attractive, well maintained and sparkling clean home is most appealing to potential buyers. No home is perfect, but avoiding these buyer turnoffs will help you make it to the closing table—instead of the punch line of a joke.

Lisa E. Priest is somewhat hesitant around clowns and is an East Texas Area REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or online at BuyPalestine.com.