When you’re living a house, you want to make it feel like home. You decorate to your own specific tastes. But when you’re selling that same home, you want your potential buyers to feel like it could be theirs. They won’t be able to picture themselves living there if your house looks too much like it belongs to you.
Before you list your home for sale, your goal should be to make your living space appear as neutral as possible. Here are six things that most buyers don’t want to see when they’re deciding whether to buy your house or the one down the block.
1. Bold colors and patterns.
If you’ve watched enough home improvement shows, you have certainly heard of the “accent wall.” That’s when you paint one wall in a room in a bold or bright color. Often that one orange or black wall changes the entire character of the space. The problem when you’re selling is that one person’s “accent” is another person’s “ugh.”
The same goes for other wall coverings like wallpaper and decals. You don’t want your buyers to look at your walls and see all the work they would have to do to make them look the way they want them. Instead, make sure your walls are a neutral color with minimal or no additional coverings.
2. Outdated or extravagant fixtures.
You may love that elk horn chandelier you bought at the craft fair so much that you’ll be taking it with you to your next home. Or maybe you bought some funky light fixtures for the kitchen that you’re planning to leave there. Either way, if those fixtures are the first thing that people will notice about your house, that might not be a good thing. Consider replacing them with something that stands out less.
If your fixtures have been around so long that they are no longer in style, that’s another thing that your buyers will notice. Replace them with something more current. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, and in fact, fancy is probably the wrong choice.
3. Carpet.
Wall-to-wall carpet is out of fashion. Many people view it as a place to trap dirt and allergens, and something that is a hassle to clean. If you have hardwood floors under your carpet, ask your realtor whether it makes financial sense to refinish the floors before you list. “Newly refinished hardwood floors” is almost always going to be a better selling point than “hardwood under the carpet.”
4. Unusual spaces.
If you’re using one of the bedrooms for something that a buyer wouldn’t expect, like a crafting room, consider converting it back to a bedroom. Buyers typically want to see more bedrooms, not fewer. This also applies if you have converted your garage into something other than a place to park a car.
5. High-maintenance outdoor features.
Highly-landscaped lawns or pools and hot tubs might seem like selling points, and they may be, but some buyers are going to look at them and see a lot of work and expense. If you have something outside your house that isn’t going to appeal to everyone, talk to your listing agent about the best way to showcase it.
6. Pets.
We all love our furry pals. In fact, nobody loves our own pets as much as we do. Some buyers will not be bothered by the signs of pets in the house because they have some of their own. But others will see your pet dishes and toys and wonder about smells and messes. It’s best to remove as much of your pet’s gear as you can while you’re listing your house.
Hey, Home Sellers, need more advice about selling your home? Call Loeffler.
If you’re ready to sell your home, contact us today. We can advise you on what you need to do to show it to its best advantage.