Avoiding Home Buyer Red Flags When Selling

Even the best staging can’t hide everything when it comes to the home selling process. If you are looking to sell your home this year, here are some things that potential buyers are looking for (and hoping to avoid) that could impact whether or not they start the contract process for your home.

Here are our best tips for avoiding some of the ‘red flags’ that may turn off a potential buyer.

Neighborhood Concerns

While there’s not much you can do about things that happen outside your property, it is naive to assume that these won’t cause possible buyers to not want to buy into your community. Are there are lot of ‘For Sale’ signs? Are the common lots and parks being maintained? These will definitely become factors in a homebuying decision so it’s good to be aware of your surroundings and their impact on your home’s value.

Poor Maintenance

You may hate yard work but a poorly maintained yard (or home) sends a signal to potential buyers. The message received is that the homeowner didn’t care for the property well. Is a poorly-maintained property a good investment? Many buyers would say no. While some homeowner tasks are tedious and costly – cleaning the gutters, caring for the yard, and keeping up a fresh coat of paint are expected. 

Bad Smells

No one wants to live in a home that smells and odor could be an indication of an event bigger problem – mold. There’s a reason that real estate agents bake cookies before an open house, smell is a trigger. A good smell will leave visitors with a positive impression of the space but a bad smell could have them running! If you live in the space, it’s a good idea to bring some outsiders in and get their opinion on the smell. If the feedback is bad, it’s important to get to the source and deal with it quickly.

Foundation Problems

None one is eager to buy a new home that has foundation issues. Buyers will be looking for signs that indicate that the foundation is problematic such as cracks, yard sloping, and doors that don’t properly open and close. If there are any bulges or cracks larger than 1/3 of an inch, structural issues could be the cause. And buyers will run if they even think that’s a possibility.

Even with a good selling market, any one of these things could cause delays and setbacks when it comes to selling your house. This information is the first step in tackling what needs to be done to put your home in a favorable light and encourage potential buyers to jump at the chance to purchase.

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