La Jolla is a community with high-ranking schools and fantastic communities close to the water and everything San Diego has to offer. Right now the real estate market is boding well for sellers with a lower inventory and high demand from interested buyers. However, this should not be abused and if you place a home on the market that is not properly prepared, the few homes on the market will make a badly handled property stand out among the rest. In order to not lose buyers from simple seller mistakes, make sure to avoid the biggest issues below:
1. Potent Odor
While buyers need to be reasonable with things like the scent of a leftover dish at a surprise showing, you don’t want to give off the impression that the smell will permanently last. Freshen up your living space and pull up any old carpets that have absorbed odors. If professional cleaning needs to occur, make sure you complete this before anyone visits your home.
2. Poor Curb Appeal
Individuals want to drive up to a house and fall in love with it, not feel a sense of repulsion about overgrown weeds and cracked driveways. Take the time to spruce up the front of your house and the yard.
3. Overpricing
Buyers generally expect to do a little bit of negotiating on a house, but they aren’t going to be interested in a property if they can get the exact same home down the block for a significant amount of money less.
4. Falling Apart at the Seams
Major maintenance issues need to be addressed. While replacing a slightly dated soap dish or a minor scratch on a window sill might not be necessary to sell the house, repairing a dilapidated door, terribly scratched wooden floors or a fridge that constantly leaks definitely is.
5. Cluttered Closets
Even if you have the most storage space out of everyone you know, cabinets, drawers and closets will appear much smaller if they filled up with clutter. Take this time to organize your items and donate gently used goods that you do not need anymore.
6. Packing Everything Up
The minute you put your house on the market, you might be eager to start packing. Doing some work is okay, but if you sell all the furniture and pack all your belongings, the house is not going to have an inviting feel to it.
7. Rampant Pets
Having your pets loose during a showing is, first and foremost, dangerous for the animals. While potential buyers must understand that you own pets, you should keep them in their crates or with you for the safety and comfort of everyone involved.
8. Dirty Home
You might not think that people will be concerned since they can just clean the house themselves. However, if dirt is all over the place, potential buyers might suspect more serious issues such as mold and mildew.
9. Insect Issues
If you have any signs of insect problems, buyers will often turn away. Make sure all pests have been taken care of and that you have active termite treatments throughout the year if these bugs have been a problem.
10. Too Personal
Individuals want to see their family can make a home in your house. That doesn’t mean you need to strip away every personalized touch in your home, but take it easy with wedding photos and pictures of the kids.
Attracting a buyer requires thinking like one and evaluating what you would like to see in a prospective new home. For further questions or information about how to actually handle the selling process, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
