Sellers: The 5 Things Buyers Really Don't Like About Your Annapolis Home
March 14th, 2009 Categories: Buyers, One Minute Realtor, Sellers
As Elsewhere, Buyers Are Calling the Shots in the Annapolis Real Estate Market. Here Are 5 Ways to Really Get Their Goat
I was reading a trade publication the other day and came across an article with a very similar title to the one above. It doesn’t beat around the bush, and that’s a good thing: the market is too competitive right now for bush beating. I’ve cribbed the 5 “things”, but the observations are mine.
#1. Odors. If your home has off odors, you’re a dead duck. Odors have essentially the same irritating effect on buyers as an alarm that goes if when they enter and never stops until they leave. You may not even smell the odors anymore, which is why you need an outside opinion. Do whatever it takes to eliminate the offensive odors – replace carpet, clean air ducts, etc – if you expect a sale.
#2. Cleanliness. Your home should look like you could eat off the floor, not as if you just did. There are no shortcuts here or places to hide because buyers will open every cabinet, look behind every door, in search of dirt. The best few hundreds bucks you spend when you sell a home might be hiring a professional cleaning crew.
#3. Clutter. Clutter and cleanliness go hand in hand: where you find one, you almost always find the other. Pack up the clutter, rent a storage unit – you’re moving anyway, right? – and get it down to just a few things on every surface and wall. Your home should emit a sense of calm, not chaos. Chaos confuses buyers, and confused buyers don’t buy.
#4. Sellers at Home. Imagine, if you will, a waiter who hovers at your table when you’re out on a date. That’s how buyers feel when sellers stay in their home during a showing. Doesn’t matter if the buyers and their agent say it’s fine if you stay. They’re lying.
#5. Unfinished Projects. Buyers want to imagine The Good Life in your home, a life of leisure. The last thing they want is to inherit a list of projects you never got around to. Trust me: the house down the street doesn’t have any unfinished business and it’s priced better besides. That’s what you’re up against.
Finally, none of the above matters if you’re home is overpriced for this market – which is the main thing buyers don’t like about your home. But if that’s the case, they probably didn’t even bother to make an appointment in the first place!
Shameless plug: If you’re thinking of selling your Annapolis home – or buying one in the area - give us a call. We can help you avoid these 5 mistakes, among many others, and have a great real estate transaction. We can be reached at 410-507-7222.
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