5 Things in Your Home That Can Scare Off Prospective Buyers

December 18, 2018

home stagingWhen you’re trying to sell your home, the last thing you want to do is scare buyers off. Instead, the goal should be to attract as many buyers as you can.

Unfortunately, some things can turn buyers off, including the following.

1. Bad Smells

Cleaning and de-cluttering are obvious things that homeowners need to do in order to prep their home for the market and impress buyers. But what you might not realize is that there may be certain smells in your home that you might not realize are there. When you’re in your home all the time, you might become “nose blind” to the odours in your home.

Get a fresh opinion from someone who doesn’t live in your home, such as your home stager or real estate agent. Once you’ve identified any odours, make sure you take measures to get rid of them. A home that smells bad won’t do much to impress buyers.

2. Lack of Storage

Your home could be located on a great lot, and the home itself might be outstanding. But if you lack adequate storage space, you could turn off buyers. Storage is a very important component of a home, and if your current storage options are limited, buyers might think twice about your home.

Luckily, there are things you can do about this, even if your home wasn’t originally equipped with adequate storage. You can still make good use of whatever space you have available.

For instance, you can bring in some shelving to organize your space. Buy furniture pieces that double as storage. Add closet organizers to help you store more belongings than you were able to before. Using some savvy tactics can help you effectively boost the amount of storage in your home, which can impress buyers.

3. Out-of-Date Finishes

Buyers prefer move-in ready homes, which means less work and money for them. The more home upgrades you’ve made in your home, the better. Certain rooms are more important than others in a home – such as kitchens and bathrooms – so you’d be better off focusing on these spaces when updating your home.

4. Lack of Curb Appeal

You might be able to impress buyers with the interior of your home, but don’t ignore the exterior. Curb appeal plays a big role in the marketing and selling of real estate, so don’t ignore the front yard and exterior of your home. Make sure the front door, mailbox, windows, garage door, and landscaping are tended to and in good shape in order to appeal to buyers and entice them to walk through the front door.

5. Walls That Are Too Loud

Any paint that’s too bright or wallpaper that’s too loud can be a turnoff for buyers. Instead, walls should be neutral in colour and design. In fact, home staging is all about neutralizing colours and decor to appease the masses of buyers, so make sure your walls are toned down before you list.

Need More Home Staging Help?

Hope Designs has been in the home staging biz for years and have transformed an endless number of spaces, helping sellers sell quickly and for top dollar. Let them help do the same thing for you! Call and book your consultation today!