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3 Biggest Turn Offs to Prospective Home Buyers

Like a job interview, test drive or first date, first impressions are key when selling a home. Buyers often make up their minds about a property within the first few minutes of seeing it, which is why it’s so important to make sure your home is looking its best. Worst of all, a few things can turn off buyers right away, including bad smells, cluttered rooms, and low-quality photography. So before you show your home to any potential buyers—online or in person—be sure to do a quick sweep and make sure everything is in order. Along with your real estate agent, who should guide and help with all of this, you can make sure your home makes a great first impression!

Photos Matter (A Lot!!)

Almost all buyers these days will browse real estate listings online before they ever set foot in a property. As a result, the quality of your listing photos makes an enormous difference in whether or not your listing attracts interest. Poorly lit, blurry, or otherwise low-quality photos will give buyers the impression that you are not serious about selling your home. In contrast, well-lit, clear, and detailed photos will show that you are proud of your home and confident in its value. If you are not a professional photographer, it is worth hiring someone to take high-quality photos of your property. Working with an experienced Realtor, they should have a list of vetted photography pros who they can hire for the job. Great photos will make your listing much more appealing to potential buyers.

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Neutralize Odors and Get Rid of Dirt

It’s no surprise that smells and grime can be a major turn-off to homebuyers. If your home has any unpleasant odors, it’s important to address them before any in-person showings or open house events. The same goes for visible dirt or grime. Buyers will likely be put off by a messy house, even subconsciously, no matter how well-kept the rest of your property is. Fortunately, it’s usually quite simple to clear up these issues. Air out any musty rooms. Clean any stains or dirt you can see—really get in there! With some good old elbow grease, you can make your home more inviting and increase your chances of achieving the sale price you want. Of course, most home sellers are busy (aren’t we all?), so we usually recommend hiring a professional deep-cleaning service to perfectly prepare your home. Don’t worry, we’ll coordinate and manage all the work for you.

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Visit the historic downtown

Clutter is one of the most common problems that homeowners face when trying to sell their property. Like it or not, accumulating stuff is part of modern life! Not only does clutter make your space appear smaller, it can also be off-putting to potential buyers. Studies have shown that buyers are willing to pay less for a cluttered home than they would for a neat and tidy one. Decluttering every room and surface, as well as inside closets, drawers and cabinets, is an easy way to relieve overcrowding throughout your home. Consider depersonalizing too, removing photos, personal certificates, even certain pieces of decor. The goal is to help potential buyers to envision themselves living happily within these walls, which is difficult if the home is filled with a slew of personal effects. Taking these steps, you’ll help ensure that buyers will see your home in its best, most appealing light.

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Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be sure to make a great first impression on potential buyers. These are all things that can easily be fixed, so if you need more tips or want help from a professional, let us know! We’d be happy to chat with you about what needs to happen in order for your home sale to go as smoothly as possible.

Best Loudoun County Real Estate Agents

Following these steps, you can increase the value of your property ahead of a home sale, without breaking the bank. Why not start making improvements today! Your home will thank you for it. In the meantime, if you are thinking about selling your home or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to hear from you.

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