3 Mistakes That Can Ruin the First Impression of Your House for Potential Homebuyers
Posted on: 30 January 2017
Selling a house is an art. It is not as cut and dry as people think. You may think that making a sale is just a matter of someone walking through your house and deciding that it works for them, after which they put in an offer. But the process is rarely that simple. It is almost like dating. Your house has to make a good first impression so that potential buyers will be interested. Here are some things that home sellers do to ruin that very important impression.
1. The Yard Is Overgrown
Something as simple as mowing the lawn may not seem like much to you, but it can actually harm your chances of selling the house. What is just a quick mow to you could look like a yard out of control and can make the buyer think that the house is going to need additional money in order to be in order. They may offer less on the house, feeling as though they will have to do a lot of "work" to get the house up to their standard.
Even if you are not living in the house, you should have someone come over and mow the lawn, weed the flowerbeds, and make sure that yard looks nice. This is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your house nice and one of the first things potential homebuyers look at.
2. There Are Strange Smells in the House
Perhaps you and your family love ethnic food. You might like to cook Indian, Thai, Italian, or any other kind of exotic food. Although this is fine on days when people are not coming over, it can be very detrimental to your chances of selling your house if you cook these foods even a day before buyers come through the house. A smell that they don't recognize can turn them off to the house. Even if they love Indian food, the smell out of context can seem unnerving and can dampen the whole experience.
3. Keeping the House Yours
Many people are emotionally attached to their house, so while they are showing it, they may have a hard time taking down family pictures or things that are unique to them. Don't let this happen to you! Emotionally detach yourself from the house and even let your realtor bring in new art and décor to help make the house look neutral enough for the buyer to envision themselves in the house.
By avoiding these things, you can improve your chances of selling the house.
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