As longtime residents and Okmulgee REALTORS®, we have seen a lot of homes over the years while taking our buyers to see properties. Most of the time, sellers’ homes are in good condition and our buyers fall in love at first sight. But sometimes, we’ll walk into homes that clearly haven’t been cleaned, decluttered, or prepared at all for showings, and our buyers will want to immediately move on to another listing.
If you’re planning to sell your Okmulgee home, avoid these major deal-breakers by following our quick, low-cost fixes — before you put your home on the market!
1. Pet Odors, Cigarette Smoke, and Other Foul Smells
You wouldn’t want to step into someone’s home and smell the kitty litterbox, week-old garbage, or last night’s seafood lingering in the kitchen. Home buyers don’t, either! First impressions matter when selling your Okmulgee home, and foul smells are one of the biggest ways to ruin a good first impression.
How to fix this problem: Have your carpets professionally cleaned and open the windows to let the fresh air in. Before showings, you may also want to light a scented candle — one that isn’t overpowering.
2. Extreme Clutter and Messy Rooms
Most home buyers don’t expect to walk into HGTV’s dream home when they tour your property, but they do expect to open the door and find a clean, pleasing space. A kitchen sink piled high with dishes, laundry lying in the hamper, and kids’ or pets’ toys scattered throughout the living area leaves the impression that the buyers are merely visitors or intruders into your home and not potentially future residents.
How to fix this problem: Pack all but the essentials (e.g. furniture, table settings, and a few decorations) so that you won’t have to clean as much of your home right before a showing. Follow our DIY home staging tips to make your home shine!
3. Distracting Decorations
Loud colors, clashing patterns, outdated wallpaper, and walls packed with paintings and photos are another major turn-off for potential buyers. The goal of preparing your home for showings is to appeal to as many people as possible, which often means packing away all but a few home decor items and adding a fresh coat of paint to your walls.
How to fix this problem: Appeal to as many buyers as possible by sticking with neutral colors (read our tips for adding color for examples) and decorations. If you need an objective view of your home, ask a friend, neighbor, or one of our REALTORS® to take a tour of your home and see if there are any problem areas.
A Clean Home Means More Money When You Sell
A home that has been properly cleaned and decluttered before it’s put on the market will not only draw the interest of buyers, it can fetch a higher price than it would have without preparation.
After you’ve followed some of our tips to avoid home selling red flags, our REALTORS® can help you figure out how much your home is worth – ask us for a free home evaluation!
Want More Home Selling Advice from a Local REALTOR®?
We are more than happy to provide you with additional home staging tips, helpful resources, and recommendations for professional cleaners and other service providers. Contact Key Real Estate or talk to one of our REALTORS®.
