7 Things Potential Buyers Don't Want to See in Your Home

contributed by Janice Ruano

Selling your home is not an easy task. That is particularly true if you want to sell fast and make a profit.

Don’t expect to find the right buyer for your home overnight without raising a finger. You must prep your property before listing it to ensure it attracts homebuyers. Any update you make may increase the value of your home and will enable you to set a higher price.

Of course, it all depends on how much time and money you can afford or are willing to invest in fixing the things that scare away prospective buyers. But even if money is tight, there are a few things you must attend to. Otherwise, they will scare off homebuyers.

So, look at these seven things potential buyers don’t want to see in your home.

No. 1 Dirt is one of the things potential buyers don’t want to see in your home

Visiting a dirty home is one of the biggest turn-offs for potential buyers. That is both disgusting and distracting. Homebuyers will think of nothing else than how to clean and sanitize the property. Not to mention that dirt can hide away the beautiful features of your property.

For instance, dirty windows will make the space seem gloomy. As a result, the potential buyers will want to negotiate a lower price or move on to the next property on their list without making an offer.

A deep clean before scheduling showings is worth the effort. If you don’t have the time to do it right, you should hire professional cleaning services.

No. 2 Too many personal items

One of the things potential buyers don’t want to see in your home is too many personal items. That makes it impossible for them to imagine themselves living there. Not to mention that too much stuff can make the place appear smaller and messy.

You must keep personal stuff out of sight at all costs. While you can hide away family photos and kids’ drawings in your drawers, you can’t do the same with bulky items.

The best solution here would be to rent storage. Then, prepare your items for storage by cleaning, vacuuming, and properly packing them. To make sure you find everything easily, consider creating an inventory list.

No. 3 Your pets

While it can be hard to understand, not everyone is an animal lover. And even if they are, some might still have allergies. No matter how much you love your pet, you must remove them from your home before scheduling showings.

Ask a friend to sit with them during that time or board them at pet daycare, and make sure you hide away all their toys and accessories. You should also vacuum the place thoroughly to eliminate all the pet fur. If some of the furnishings have pet scratches, removing them is also best.

No. 4 Outdated or damaged features

First, you should know that potential buyers usually ask for a home inspection. It’s impossible to hide minor or major issues. You have two options. You can either disclose all those issues and lower the price or address them before listing your home.

Of course, major repairs, such as a roof replacement, are very costly. So, if you can’t afford them, you should lower the price accordingly.

However, you can take care of minor issues. For instance, by replacing outdated light fixtures or appliances or repairing leaky faucets, you can boost your home’s value and attract buyers.

No. 5 Mold and pests

Nothing is more horrifying for potential buyers than seeing a home full of mold and pests. On the one hand, this makes the property look poorly maintained. On the other hand, it’s highly unsanitary. Just moving into that space and dealing with such issues can scare off homebuyers.

Before listing your home, you should scrutinize it for any mold or pest infestation signs. If you identify any of these issues, hire a professional to take care of them. Otherwise, the problem can reoccur shortly after.

No. 6 Unpleasant smells

Most people only think about the visuals when prepping their homes for sale. However, smells are just as important.

If potential buyers enter your home and sense a foul odor, they’ll immediately run out the door. And this applies to other unpleasant smells as well. That can include cigarette smoke, pet smells, and strong cooking odors. So, clean and air out your home correctly before scheduling viewings.

Try to avoid using scented candles because not everyone likes or tolerates them. You should also avoid cooking fried meals or other dishes containing lots of garlic or onion, as it will be harder to eliminate the smell. Instead, you can bake some cookies and serve them to potential buyers.

No. 7 An unappealing landscape

Many sellers make the mistake of focusing on the inside of their house and completely overlooking the outside. But to make your home sell faster, you must also improve its curb appeal. After all, this is the first thing homebuyers will notice, and it greatly impacts them.

Now, don’t worry. You don’t have to break the bank to repaint the entire exterior if your budget is tight. Instead, ensure you mow the lawn regularly, trim the hedges and trees, and water your flowers or plants.

The idea is to show potential buyers that the property has been well looked after while in your possession.

Before placing your home on the market, you should prepare it accordingly. That will enable you to attract more potential buyers and get better offers. If you don’t have enough time or money to make major repairs and updates, you should at least focus on the small stuff.

Correcting these seven things potential buyers don’t want to see in your home will cost you little to no money. However, they have a tremendous impact on homebuyers.