What Turns You Off Buying

[grandmoon]

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.

[amber-eyed-girl]

There is a lot on the list that would be seen through or ignored by sensible people...after all, the clutter goes when they move out. It is about impressions for the majority though. That was the thing about the flowers. Both agents said that. Something to welcome a looker as if they were a guest 🙂 and to be remembered if they saw six houses in a day.

Also, with clutter, it isn't just about looking its best. A lot of people are not that good at visualising space. So what they see, is all they see, and they cannot see the true dimension of a room if it looks smaller all filled up.

[*lady*godiva*]

I'd be changing real estate agents

[lloydslights]

If not already done so, visit realestate.com to view similar houses within the same/surrounding suburbs and compare prices, photos, etc.

DEB

[amber-eyed-girl]

The agents should have been advising what to do. Deoending on what has been spent on ads photos etc. might be an option to look elsewhere if not too much invested already.

[boris1gary]

Last year a friend asked me if I would go along with him and help him decide what houses to buy as investments, from a womans perspective (2). I couldn't believe how rude people were on the open days - walking through peoples homes making rude comments on their taste, banging on about the colours of rooms, choice of furniture etc etc.  - right in front of the homeowners. Only ever saw one other person with a tape measure (I had the other one).  I did start making comments after about 10 houses - oh, I didn't realise the house was being sold fully furnished and with all the personal items as well - real estate agents will say people are buying "a lifestyle" - what a load of rubbish - people are buying a house.    

[grandmoon]

I will speak to the Agent and see what he recommends.  I think the price is about right compared to the other house around so I think that the presentation is what is holding it back.  I think she should get someone in to tidy up the yard.

[amber-eyed-girl]

Yes. Sensible people see the house and location. I tend to ignore RE fantasy speak 🙂

But lots of people need to be told and shown things. As you say, no tape measures for most so clutter needs to go.

Oops Boris you reminded me. Some snoop. Put away anything personal like prescriptions from obvious view in the bathroom cabinets.

[cherry*135]

We have sold four houses, the general consensus with RE agents is flowers etc are unnecessary..no one is going to buy a house because there was a nice bunch of flowers in the kitchen...the roof might be sagging, the neighbours untidy ferals... Flowers aren't going to change that.

Obviously if a house is very dirty, neglected, damaged and very untidy it would be a big put off to buyers. ( not related to house in OP)

Clutter won't put a serious buyer off if the house has the features they want. If anything needs fixing (broken fence palings etc) get it fixed before listing for sale.

Supply and demand play a big part too.. Is it a buyers market at present where this house is for sale, grandmoon?

How long has it been fir sale and how many viewers have the RE brought through so far?

If they haven't bought many through so far, that might indicate there is something not attractive about this property or its location or its asking price.

[amber-eyed-girl]

Flowers won't sell the house. They are there to be welcoming so people are more likely to remember it. That's all. One bunch of natives can last six weeks, it is not too expensive.

Personally, if I thought I was going to break an ankle wading through clutter with a tape measure, I would leave. If it was that bad.

Obvious cosmetics like palings or cracks that look worse than they are do need fixing. Or dirty patches in the paintwork.

[cherry*135]

I think clutter that needs wading through is a bit of an exaggeration...

I wouldn't remember the flowers on a bench.. I would remember if the living rooms were too small or the kitchen joinery needs replacing, the fences are about to fall over ...Those are the sort of things buyers note about each property they look at...things that will cost money to get up to scratch or just the layout of the house isn't very good, no double garage etc.

The RE agent is the person to ask. They now how much comparable houses in the same area sold for, whether there is much buyer interest at present ( lots of job losses in Canberra, are people willing to take out a mortgage?) , what the owner could do to improve appearances.

All we know is a house is up for sale.. Not enough to go on.