Selling Your Orlando Home? Avoid These Potential Buyer Turnoffs
To give yourself the best chance at selling your home for top dollar in the least amount of time, you need to make a good first impression because you won’t get another chance at this. In my experience as an Orlando real estate agent since 2004, I’ve heard just about every complaint you can imagine from potential home buyers. The crazy thing is that many times they complain about stupid little things which could’ve easily been avoided by the homeowner.
If you’re interested in selling your home for top dollar in the least amount of time, you should follow these tips to give you the best chance.
Water Stained Ceilings and Walls- Water stains on the ceiling can be a dead giveaway that you’ve had or still have a water leak which usually means roof or plumbing issues which can potentially mean serious repairs. If you have an active water leak, you should address it before listing your home. And if it’s already been repaired, then make sure you finish the job and paint over any previously stained drywall.
Whenever I assess a property for damage, the first place I look is the ceilings…
Bad Odors- Odors can sometimes cause a potential buyer to turn back around at the front door before they even enter the house. Cigarette smoke, cat urine, and anything else that stinks can be a potential deal killer. The problem with getting rid of odors is that sometimes the odors get embedded into the walls ceilings and floors which means you’ll probably need to replace the carpeting [you should be OK if you have tile] and repaint the walls and ceilings.
You should first try shampooing the carpets and cleaning the walls the best you can. If the odors are still there, then it may be time to repaint… then new carpets. I’ve found that new paint and carpet will eliminate even the worst odors.
Bad Lighting- There’s not much you can do about the natural lighting of your home other than making sure blinds and windows are opened allowing in as much light as possible. However, you should consider updating your existing lighting fixtures throughout the home if they’re outdated. You can get some nice fixtures for relatively cheap at your nearest Home Depot or Lowes.
Note: If you’ve already painted the inside, you may as well go the extra mile with some nice fixtures.
Outdated Bathroom- You may think you need to spend big money when updating a bathroom but it’s not true. Unlike a new kitchen, bathrooms can be updated relatively cheaply. Unless you have a massive bathroom with long countertops, an average bathroom can be updated with under $1000 depending on what needs to be done. I believe a new vanity, new fixtures, a new mirror, and a new toilet usually do the trick.
Too Much Clutter- This is an easy one to fix which is why I’m always surprised to see so many people get it wrong. I’ve had quite a few uncomfortable conversations with listing clients over the years about this. However, I wouldn’t be doing my job otherwise. Rooms with too much furniture can look smaller than they are. It’s also uncomfortable for potential buyers to walk through and imagine any kind of open space.
Tacky Decor– Talk about awkward conversations… Trying to tell a listing client their taste in home decor sucks is never fun. But again… I wouldn’t be doing my job as an Orlando real estate agent if I didn’t. Sometimes the best thing to do is keep it simple. Takedown those over-the-top curtains and decorations and allow the home to be seen without the distraction of your taste in home decor. Keep colors neutral and decor simple.
