Are you looking to sell your Chicago home? There are some common issues in any home that could have the potential buyer turning around and walking out the door. Don’t sabotage your sale – make sure that these common turnoffs are avoided:

Pets

If you’re a potential buyer walking up to a home for the first time, you want to take in curb appeal and feel welcomed. A territorial dog barking over the fence or at the front door may scare some and irritate others. It’s best to take the dog with you or see if a friend can watch them during the showing. Some sellers leave their pet in a garage or the spare bedroom during a showing, but this too is a turnoff. If a potential buyer can’t inspect every area of the home, they may feel like the seller is hiding something.

Aesthetics

Everyone has their own style, but if you’re looking at attracting a buyer, it’s best to decorate or stage to please a wide audience. Repaint any walls that may have bold and bright colors to a more neutral tone. Remove any busy wallpaper, and move the bulky furniture that may make the room look smaller. Declutter and organize your shelves, countertops, and storage areas. You want to create a space that the potential buyer is able to picture themselves in.

Avoid unpleasant odor

If your home smells of pets, cigarette smoke, mildew, or mold, chances are potential homebuyers will be turned off of your home. You may not be able to detect the smell yourself, so bring in a friend to check before you start showing the house to buyers. If an odor is detected, take action to eradicate it. Giving the walls a fresh coat of paint or shampooing the carpet can help get rid of any unwelcome smells. Instead of trying to mask the smell, just remove it altogether.

Keep it clean

Make sure your home is thoroughly cleaned. This is especially important in your kitchen and bathrooms, as any ounce of grime is an instant turnoff. In your bathrooms, scrub the grout, clean the tiles and basins, and make sure the toilets are extra clean. Go the extra mile and change out the shower curtains and towel holders. In the kitchen, clean the oven, remove any signs of grease, and organize the refrigerator. Remove your small appliances from your countertops – the more counter space, the better. This extra effort makes a huge difference in the viewing of your home.

Stay out of the dark

Dark and crowded rooms are a huge turnoff to a potential buyer. Accentuate all of the natural light you can by adding more lighting if need be. You want your home to be bright, pleasant and welcoming. Lots of light often makes rooms look bigger as well.

Unwelcoming Curb Appeal

Curb appeal and outside space is a big plus for buyers, so it’s important to spruce it up and remove any junk you may have lying around. Create attractive and usable spaces outside. If you have a garden, make sure the flower beds are weeded and look nice. Make sure the patio furniture is clean also. Roll up the hose, clean the gutters, and rake the leaves. With a little hard work, your outside space could be the key to selling your home.

Avoiding these buyer turnoffs will dramatically improve your chances for a quick sale. Many of the issues can be easily resolved without breaking the bank. What are your turnoffs as a buyer? Share your experience with us.