Home Sale Turnoffs -- What To Do

HOME SALE TURN-OFFS, WHAT TO DO

Keep the wet out
Water where it doesn't belong is a major enemy of your house. A wet basement or water stained ceiling in your home can be a real turn-off to a potential buyer. Check regularly for signs of water damage to your home. Flashing around chimneys and around doors and windows can loosen and leak with age and let water seep under a roof or inside walls. Left unnoticed this could lead to mold and a difficult-to-fix problem. Check your roof for loose shingles or dangling gutters. Clogged or improperly installed gutters, and downspouts that drain too close to the foundation, are two major causes of basement water seepage or even flooding.

Check around your home's foundation for cracks or gaps that could let in water, insects, and varmints. Make sure there are no gaps around water, gas, or electrical pipes entering into the home. Take a look at the slope of your yard, especially if you have done any landscaping work which may have changed the ground's pitch and result in water flowing toward the house. As homes age, the ground around the foundation often sinks slightly letting water settle against the foundation and possibly damaging it. This is especially important if you have a newly constructed home and the ground around the foundation hasn't had time to settle yet or is low in spots, allowing water to puddle and seep in.

Water level stains on basement walls and paneling from previous flooding needs an explanation. Similarly, any leak causing ceiling water stains or peeling paint should be fixed and the ceiling repaired, preferably with a work report and guarantee from a contractor.

Buyer's today, they’re just plain PICKY, PICKY, PICKY

That’s because there are so-o-o-o many houses on the market. Today’s buyer is looking for quality, newer amenities, less work, and a home that stands out from the rest.

Here are 5 kitchen and bath features buyers have shown they want most:
36% Separate shower enclosure in the master bath
31% Eat-in kitchen
24% High-end appliances--preferably stainless steel for today's buyer
23% Granite countertops
21% Kitchen island--preferably one that incorporates lots of storage
(Source: National Association of Realtors 2007 Profile of Buyers' Home Feature Preferences)

Poor overall upkeep can lead to a NO or LOW sale
Painted surfaces that are cracked, peeling, or just plain dirty and worn can turn off a buyer or lead to a very low offer. Lights that are broken or don’t work, and appliances that are dirty could lead potential buyers to think the home has been neglected. Make sure toilets are bolted securely and check sinks and faucets for leakage. Check the condition of doors and windows for cracks, decayed caulking and peeling paint. If you have a basement it should be neat and clean, dry, and with lights that work.

The listing photos of your home may be a turn off to showings
Take a look at your home from the street. Take a picture of it. Curb appeal in today's market is vitally important to MLS and Web appeal, as well as the all-important first impression a potential buyer gets when visiting your home. I’ve had buyers who didn’t want to get out of the car because the front of a home looked unkept or appeared uninviting. Make sure the entrance to your home is fresh and appealing, replace worn or non-working exterior lighting, paint the front door and make sure the steps and walk are in good repair, trim dead or overgrown shrubs and trees.