You’re selling your home and thinking “how do I make someone fall in love with my house?”…this is where we come in! We can guide you on all of the right steps to make your home show at its very best! After all, there is nothing like a first impression so we want to be sure that a buyer’s first impression of your home is a good one. Read on for the top 5 deal breakers from a buyer’s perspective when home shopping.
1. Neighbouring Homes
The house that a buyer is looking at of course is the primary focus but 18% of Canadians say that neighbouring homes in poor condition would be a deal breaker for them when purchasing a house.
OUR SOLUTION:
Ensure that your property is pristine and plant hedges, grasses or other greenery to hide any negatives at the neighbours. This will also create a more private feel, drawing the buyer’s eyes to your home rather than your neighbours. You can also have a frank conversation with your neighbours, explaining that you will be selling your home. You can always blame us! Tell them your realtor insisted that their lawn be cut or that garbage taken away…we don’t mind! Not comfortable speaking to them yourself? We would be happy to.
2. Lack of Curb Appeal
41% of Canadians say that a home that does not look nice from the outside (curb appeal), would make the house a “no” for them.
OUR SOLUTION:
Ensure that the exterior of your home is tidy. Grass cut and lawn weeded or driveway and walkways cleared of snow. Clean, modern landscaping with weeded gardens and trimmed shrubs and hedges show the level of maintenance that buyers like to see! AND keep your front porch clean – keeping it swept from seasonal debris, cobwebs, dust and dirt goes a long way. This is after all the first time the buyers may potentially enter their new home!
3. Deceiving Room Sizes
This is one of mine and Carole’s biggest pet peeves. 40% of Canadians say that if the rooms are smaller than they looked online, they would not buy the house. After all, what else could they be misled about?
OUR SOLUTION:
This solution falls entirely on our team so you can sit back and relax! After all, your room sizes are what they are. We work very hard to ensure that our photographs and any videos are a true representation of your home. In fact, we would rather a room look smaller than it is rather than larger – this way a buyer is pleasantly surprised when viewing the house rather than disappointed – which is the nail in the coffin for a home sale.
4. Too much competition from other buyers
This is a deal breaker we have seen happen these past 5 years, though less now in this more balanced market. 36% of Canadians say that interest from other buyers and the idea of a looming bidding war would put them off of submitting an offer.
OUR SOLUTION:
We work tirelessly in our negotiation with other agents so that all of their buyers feel respected and thought of. We provide answers quickly and have open communication with agents to show them that we are fair and honest people to work with…in a bidding war or not.
5. House location too close to certain amenities
28% of Canadians say proximity too close to stores, restaurants and bars would be a turnoff for them.
OUR SOLUTION:
There isn’t much you can do about the location of your home – as they say…”it’s the one thing you cannot change”. However, we can spin anything! We also come up with a marketing plan to attract the right buyer for your house. Would a young family like to live adjacent to the neighbourhood hot spot? No. A young professional couple may! In this way, we consider ourselves matchmakers of sorts. We find the right buyer for your property.
A few other dealbreakers buyers have mentioned are cluttered and untidy homes, unhelpful realtors (you won’t find those HERE!) and sellers being present during showings – never a good idea.
Have questions about selling your home and getting it ready? Give us a call or send us an email. We can book a visit to give you some tips on how best to prepare.