Lindsay Robbins Blog

Deadly Sin #4

Not making repairs

For every dollar it costs you to make a repair in your home, a buyer will deduct $3 from the asking price! There are many examples of possible needed repairs…a leaky sink, a hole in the wall, stained carpet, a non-working light switch, damaged roof, broken concrete walkway, broken garage door, etc. I have seen all of these and seen buyers add up deductions from the asking price because of them.

I know, most seller’s HATE the idea of spending money on a home they are selling and they may think “These things have never bothered me, why would they bother the buyer?” If you have the money, spend it. Spend it wisely on the things most obvious. In some cases, I recommend sellers hire an inspector to find needed repairs before buyers find them. I have seen buyers simply walk away from a home because these needed repairs led them to believe there were many more needed “fixes” hiding from sight.

SO bottom line, walk through your home with the perspective of a buyer, find those needed repairs, put in some elbow grease and money.  You’ll have a move-in ready home for buyers to snatch up.

Deadly Sin #3

Cluttered Rooms and Closets

Clean out and clean up! You may or may not realize that buyers snoop, they snoop through your cupboards, drawers and closets. Buyers don’t just judge your home based on what they see on the surface but what is behind closed doors. They judge the condition of the things they can’t see by the things they can. If your closets and drawers are clean and organized, they assume that things behind the walls like electrical wires and plumbing are neat and in good repair. You may not have thought a cluttered closet could cost you. Buyer’s who see clutter start deducting from the list price. So protect your home’s value by taking one closet at a time and clean out and clean up.

Deadly Sin #2

Not Accommodating Showings

The second deadly sin is not making your home readily available for showings. Buyers have A LOT of inventory to see and consider. Many times I will have a buyer’s agent contact me and say he is taking his client out to show many homes in only a few hours.  If my client’s home isn’t available during their time frame, the home doesn’t get shown. I know from a seller’s perspective, one of the hardest parts (aside from WAITING for an offer) is feeling like you have to be on call anytime day or night for a realtor to show your home. It is a lot of pressure to have your home in showing condition. BUT it is a must. Your home has to be available or you miss the opportunity. Bottom line: If your home is for sale, buyer’s need to see it on their terms and time frame.