What Home Sellers Can Do To Avoid Losing A Sale
When your home is on the market, you know how important it is to hold on to the right buyer. But, before
the offers come in, your home needs to showcase itself well to ensure you don’t lose any offers before they can occur.
Here are five home-sale deal breakers — common mistakes to avoid.
- Color can kill a sale. Wall colors that are too cold, too unusual or too stark can turn off buyers early in the process.
- Don’t hide defects. Buyers will eventually find out what is underneath the decorative carpets and furniture upon walk through. Be honest from the start and disclose everything you know about your home.
- If it conveys, it stays. Be very clear about what sells with the home. If you aren’t planning on leaving certain appliances or removable features, remove them before your home goes on the market. Buyers may fall in love with the chandelier, for example, and end the sale when they learn it doesn’t convey.
- Community issues. If your home is part of a community association, give potential buyers access to by-law documents that detail any restrictions the homeowners, condo or co-op association imposes on your property, such as pet ownership, ability to rent out the property, working-at-home covenants, architectural standards, etc.
- Offer peace of mind. Many buyers, especially first-time buyers, are nervous about committing to a home purchase. Offering a home warranty and/or pre-sale inspections gives a sense of security to these buyers and can help facilitate a sale.