Selling a Home? Avoid these Common Home Buyer Turnoffs
Are you selling your home? Did you know that even though buyers are looking for something different, the majority of them will turn around and walk back out the door if they notice one or more of these ‘Top 10 Problems'.
1. 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 - the house smells like cigarettes. If you have pets, the house might smell bad - 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. 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 other odors.
2. Dogs that Meet You at the Door or in the Driveway
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. Dirty 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 the home, the extra work is a must.
4. Dimly Lit Rooms
Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so try to brighten them up:
- Replace dim light fixtures or use higher wattage bulbs
- Install additional light fixtures
- Install (quality) sun tunnels or skylights
- Remove heavy drapes to let the light stream through windows
- Repaint some rooms with colors that reflect light
- Trim tree limbs that shadow the house
Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff. Clean them inside and out to bring in more light. If possible, replace any double-pane windows with broken seals. You can find them by looking for a foggy residue (looks like milk on the glass) that cannot be removed.
5. A House Full of Busy Wallpaper
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 it should be removed and replaced with paint. Don't paint over it, because it will be obvious that you did - and buyers know that makes removing it even more difficult.
6. Damp Basements
Dampness or damp smells in the basement throw up a red flag to buyers that the foundation leaks! Most problems we see are not caused by faulty foundations. They occur because rainwater is being diverted towards the foundation instead of away from it.
- Clogged underground drains
- No rain gutters along roofline
- Downspouts aimed the wrong way
Go outside the next time it rains and determine where that runoff water is going.
7. Bugs
Roaches, ants, spiders, any insect that shouldn't be in the house. Get rid of them!
8. Poor Curb Appeal
You must grab a buyer's interest from the curb if you want to sell the home for top dollar. Home buyers often refuse to go into a house with an unkempt yard, sagging doors or peeling paint. You say you can't afford to paint? You can get that yard in tip-top shape and grab a screwdriver to fix those doors and cleaning doesn't cost a lot of money! Clean the front door and ‘welcome' the buyers into your home.
9. Gutters with Plants and Small Trees Growing in Them
I'm serious! Some people never clean their gutters, and it always makes buyers wonder what else hasn't been maintained. Remember the drainage issue in #6? Cleaning packed gutters might help.
10. Sellers Who Hang Around 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 home. Remember, hovering is for helicopters so give the buyers space when they need it most.
My 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 your 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.
Lyn Sims (847)230-7324 Direct Home Search MLS Access www.LynSims.net
Email: LynSims@remax.net
Lyn Sims at RE/MAX Suburban is a veteran agent who works the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Palatine, Medinah, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Elgin, South Elgin and St. Charles.
© 2007 - 2010 Lyn Sims
EVERY REAL ESTATE MARKET IS LOCAL. ASK A SEASONED REALTOR, LIKE LYN SIMS, WHAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY!
Lyn Sims at Re/Max Suburban (847)230-7324 works in the Northwest Suburban Chicago areas of Bartlett, Roselle, Medinah, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Elgin, South Elgin, Carol Stream, Medinah, Palatine, Elk Grove Village.
If you are currently in the market for your first home, you may be interested in how a real estate agent can help you. You are about to make a great investment of both money and time. I have a wealth of experience helping first time buyers, like you, make sound and informed decisions. 
floorplans and styles.
One of the most important things that you can do for yourself is to pick an experienced agent! You don't want someone new in the business "practicing" on you. Think about it - This is one of the largest purchase decisions you will make and experience can get you the home that you want no matter what the market!
These are just a few ways that a seasoned real estate agent, like myself Lyn Sims, can help you in your journey towards buying your very first home. More information for first time buyers can be found on my website or by calling me directly. I'm confident that I can provide the kind of exceptional service that will make this process an exciting one. Please don't hesitate to call or 
Lyn Sims at RE/MAX Suburban (847) 230-7324 
Park District also operates four community recreation centers, including the Water Works Oasis, a spectacular indoor pool facility. Golf courses, racquetball courts, summer boat rentals, and three outdoor swimming pools also are under the District's jurisdiction.
LYN SIMS at RE/MAX SUBURBAN (847)230-7324
their advice is solid, it's not revolutionary, but some potential customers might find it reassuring.
So this is how the attached market graphs work. Let's say that your pre-approved purchase price is in the $250,000 to $350,000 range and you would like to start looking for a single family home. There are currently 14 home selections in that range in Itasca
something more manageable! Interest rates are expected to be lowered soon which makes it even more affordable.
Elgin, St. Charles.
their advice is solid, it's not revolutionary, but some potential customers might find it reassuring.
Selling Your Home
Next, pull into the driveway and take a good, hard look. Is the yard neat and trimmed? What about the view from the front yard? Then, walk inside and size up the interior as though seeing it for the first time. Take a tour and imagine what your real estate agent (like Lyn!) might say about each room, look into cabinets, open doors, check out the bathroom.
3. To Sell, Sell, Sell -- Clean, Clean, Clean
6. Get a Sense of the Market
Park, Streamwood, Elgin, South Elgin, Bartlett, St. Charles.
This is a short reprint of an article submitted to me from a short sale attorney in my area. Check out the statistics - it's unbelievable!
There are many reasons for this total lack of common sense. They include, but are not limited to the following:
EVERY REAL ESTATE MARKET IS LOCAL. ASK A SEASONED REALTOR, LIKE LYN SIMS, WHAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY!
Lyn Sims at Re/Max Suburban (847)230-7324 works in the Northwest Suburban Chicago areas of Bartlett, Roselle, Bloomingdale, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Elgin, South Elgin, Carol Stream, Medinah, Palatine, Elk Grove Village.
available as well as some well-sized 2story models.
Everyone knows that loans are getting tougher to get, higher credit reports are needed and the strings just keep getting pulled tighter and tigher. But yesterday's closing (praise the lord) was UNBELIEVABLE and a sign of the current lender times.
This is where my eyes popped! For a garage door opener! Yes, the loan officer says, some small child might get squished, injured by that garage door opener (viscious, killer, garage door that it is - the seller should have known!). Yes, we should report that garage door to some felon website! 
just NOT FUNNY - it's ridiculous!