Are you selling a home? Did you know that even though home buyers are all looking for something different, there is a common thread that runs among them—they’ll usually turn around and walk back out of your door if they notice one or more of these problems. If you’re selling a home, make sure it’s free and clear of the top ten issues that turn off buyers. MAKE THEM LOVE YOUR HOUSE!

1. Eliminate Odors
House odors are number one on the home selling uh-oh list. And narrowing it down, odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind.
If you smoke indoors—it smells. Sorry, but it’s true. If you have pets, the house might smell—even if you don’t notice it. Ask someone who doesn’t live there to take a sniff (and don’t get angry when they tell you the truth).
There’s only one solution. Eradicate the odors so that you can present potential buyers with a clean, fresh atmosphere—not a house that’s full of perfumes to cover up the smell.

2. Control Your Pets
Dogs frighten some people and irritate others. You’ll have a much better response from showings if you control your pets—dogs, cats, whatever.
You say you plan to put them in a bedroom or garage and then ask people not to open the door to that area? Bad idea. Would you buy a house you can’t inspect? Of course not.
Remove pets during showings if possible. If you can’t, contain them in crates for their own safety and to show respect for the feelings of potential buyers.

3. Clean Bathrooms
Grimy bathrooms are an instant turnoff. Scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels—do what it takes to make them shine. If you’re serious about selling this home, the extra work will make the task much, much easier.

4. Brightly Lit Rooms
Dark Homes are a turnoff to most home buyers. Here are some potential fixes:

   1. Replace dim light fixtures
   2. Install additional light fixtures
   3. Install (quality) sun tunnels or skylights
   4. Remove heavy drapes to let light stream in
   5. Repaint some rooms with colors that reflect light
   6. Trim tree limbs that shadow the houseWhile you are at it, clean the windows,
       inside and out.

If you can, replace any insulated windows that have broken seals (you’ll see fog within the windows that cannot be removed). Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff.

5. Neutral Décor
This is another critical issue to think about if you’re selling a home, because busy wallpaper in every room turns off most buyers, and even people who love wallpaper rarely like what you’ve chosen. It’s a personal decorative touch that they want to select themselves.
It’s the masses you must appeal to when you’re selling a home, so take a hard look at your wallpaper and decide if it should be removed and replaced with paint. Don’t paint over it, because that usually enhances every seam and looks terrible.

6. Dry Basements
Any dampness (or damp smells) in the basement throw up a red flag to buyers that the basement leaks! Even if it doesn’t truly leak.
If you have leaks, fix them. No leaks? Look for drainage issues. Maybe water is pooling around the foundation, keeping it damp. Most problems we see are caused by rainwater that’s being diverted towards the foundation instead away from it.
  •  Underground drains might be blocked.
  •  Downspouts could be aimed the wrong way.
Go outside the next time it rains and take a look.

7. No Bugs
Roaches, spiders, any type of insect that shouldn’t be in the house. Get rid of them.

8. Great Curb Appeal
You must grab their interest from the curb if you wan to sell the home for top dollar. Buyers often refuse to go into a house with an unkempt yard, sagging front doors or peeling paint. You say you can’t afford to paint? Okay, but get that yard in tip-top shape and grab a screwdriver to fix those doors.

9. Clean Gutters
Some people never clean their gutters, and it always makes buyers wonder what else hasn’t been handled.
Remember the drainage issue in #6? Cleaning packed gutters might help.

10. Sellers Who Leave for Showings
Yes, you…leave the house during showings. Home buyers feel awkward about opening closet doors and lingering for a really good look at the house if the seller is there.
If you’re selling by owner, give them some space, don’t hover.

Parting Words
Most of the Top 10 problems are home selling issues you can correct without spending a lot of money. Do it now, before you put the house on the market, because if you house develops a reputation among agents as the house that smells, the house with the huge barking dog, or the house where the owner won’t leave people alone it will be too late. Your house will be last on their list to show potential buyers.

Helpful Articles:

Set Your List Price

10 Ways to make Buyers love your House

For Sale By Owner