topic Re: What Turns You Off Buying in Community Spirit

What Turns You Off Buying

grandmoon — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 21:50:43 GMT

a house. Friend has had her house on the market for sometime now and they haven't had even one offer.

So what would turn you off buying a house so we can check and improve her chances of a sale.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

azureline** — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 21:53:59 GMT

Clutter, gardens that look high maintainance, grubby kitchens and bathrooms.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

grandmoon — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 21:58:40 GMT

We will have a good look at the garden, it may needs so work out there.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

lurker172602 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:05:37 GMT

Clutter. It makes rooms look smaller but more importantly it personalises a space and doesn't allow the buyer to imagine their own furniture and things there. Get rid of it, you can always bring it back out of storage after you move to the new place if you're that attached it to.

Storage problems. Don't have any things out that should have a place in a cupboard etc. Hide it if you have to. I know I carted stuff around in my car when we were selling rather than having it show up our lack of storage space.

Over optimistic pricing. I know everyone lists a higher price than they will accept so they have negotiation room, but don't put people off by setting it so high they won't even bother to look.

Photographs. Get a professional photographer to take your internet pictures. Happy snaps won't cut it. Viewers will just click on through. Don't be afraid to tell your realtor if you're not happy with them either. I made them photoshop a toilet brush out of our ensuite shot cause I thought it looked ugly and messy.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

soulart2 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:13:35 GMT

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

This house will be going on the market soon. Had the gardens tidied up and mulched....check.

Sold most of the furniture, going through my art room and taking "stuff" to the Tender Centre to sell, so there won't be any clutter that's for sure.....check.

New kitchen....check

Being painted atm and will have all the windows,screens cleaned....check

Only problem with this house is that it only has one bathroom but new owners could do what I was going to do, turn one of the bedrooms upstairs into a bathroom.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

grandmoon — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:24:05 GMT

I told her that she should remove most of her family photos (at least 60 of them) by her family said they make the place look like a family home.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

amber-eyed-girl — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:24:09 GMT

Have you had a quote on the upstairs bathroom (potential)?

Just in case it is mentioned, someone could ask that. Then it is either a positive if not horrendous, or a negative if it sounds too much.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

amber-eyed-girl — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:25:51 GMT

I agree with removing most of the photos. A couple, make the house a home. A lot make clutter to the stranger who is looking.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

daydream**believer — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:31:22 GMT

My neighbours put their house on the market last year and couldnt sell it.

To us, the price they had on it was too much. I believe they priced it based on their loves and memories in the house instead of what the housing market was.

They had the house rendered and gardens tidied up a few months ago and put it on the market again. Price originally was $495 000 to $525 000 (still too much)

They then dropped it a month later to $485 000 and it has sold.

Low maintenance gardens, a nice kitchen and bathroom are a big selling point. People see kitchens and bathrooms as big expenses to fix up so they want them perfect

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

amber-eyed-girl — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:35:14 GMT

Recently had two house sales in the family. The RE advice, from two different agents was:

Get rid of clutter to make it attractive and seem bigger.
Hire beds for any bedrooms that did not have one. The more bedrooms, the better price.
Get a professional in to tidy up any garden.
Make sure everything is clean on inspection. Clean bathroom, no signs of use such as wet towels and wet soap.
Make sure photos are at a minimum. It makes people feel they are in Your home, and stops them seeing it as theirs.
Fresh flowers in the entrance hall or somewhere family-orientated like the dining table. Feels welcoming.
Remove excess furniture to a friend's place or storage.
Fix any obvious cosmetic damage such as large plaster cracks. The first impression should be of space and welcome, and look easy to maintain.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

soulart2 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:39:04 GMT

I haven't had a quote amber but the bedroom I was going to use, sits above the downstairs bathroom which would be a help with plumbing etc.

It's an old house and the main selling point is it's position. People either love the idea of living here or hate the thought of not having neighbours etc.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

lurker172602 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:43:04 GMT

Yes, they do make her home look like a family home. HER family home, not the potential buyers. Sorry, but out they go!

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

amber-eyed-girl — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:43:14 GMT

The plumbing sounds positive then 🙂

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

boris1gary — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:46:33 GMT

Only the things that can't be changed - location and a small yard.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

lloydslights — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:47:32 GMT

Lurker mentioned the photographs. So important. Prospective buyers go on line first mostly, and that is where most people make the initial decision to view a property or not.

Cleanliness, no clutter, no personal photos - and a realistic price.

Good luck to your friend.

DEB

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

lurker172602 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:47:40 GMT

Oh, just thought of another thing we were advised. If you have a problem with neighbours, heaps of cars coming and going, barking dogs or something similar try to schedule your opens to when that is less likely to be occurring.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

soulart2 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:53:22 GMT

Part of the ad for this house when we bought it, said..."Scream and no one will hear you"

umm.......NOT something I would want for my ad hahahaa

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

lurker172602 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:54:50 GMT

Lordy, I'm on a roll here now 🙂

When they do have a open house, bear in mind that people may be looking at several houses that day. Give them something to remember your place by. So they can say to each other, you remember, "that one with the lovely plant by the front door", or "the one with the striking painting/art work" or whatever. Just don't let them say "the one with the used litter box in the corner" 🙂

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

grandmoon — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:55:01 GMT

As soon as I have finished my washing I am off to get her some boxes and will help her declutter her photos and ornaments.

Re: What Turns You Off Buying

cherry*135 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 23:05:58 GMT

The design of the house... Small and poky, odd layout, lack of storage...

The price...is it overpriced compared to others in the same area, is the interior dated, does it have a double garage.

The location....on a busy road/street, condition of other houses next to it.

There may be more houses for sale and not much demand which will make it harder to get a house sold. Job losses - people moving away and less people moving to that city.

I think genuine buyers can see through clutter ( that won't be there if they buy the house) and if house is priced accordingly outdated carpet, curtains etc wont put people off either as long as the design/layout of the house is good and doesn't need costly changes.