I was prompted by a recent post entitled What "Color Me Beautiful" Taught Me about Staging that talked about how buyers may not be aware of why they don't like a house. In essence, the colors and decorating scheme may send messages to the buyers that they are not fully aware of. I agree; sometimes buyers cannot express why a house does not appeal to them.
However, sometimes there are knowable, visible, and specific factors that are obvious turn-offs, and the buyers are fully aware of what they are.
Now, before you give me the "paint is cheap" rationale for looking past obvious flaws, I want to ask you for opinions on what would be voted "most likely to fail" in getting a buyer to fall in love with a house.
Let's assume for the purpose of this exercise that the houses are structurally sound, in decent neighborhoods, and competitively priced. What factor in your mind is most likely to turn a buyer off?
To start the list, I will enter my all-time #1 turn-off:
1) Carpeting in the bathroom (wall-to-wall--yuck)!
Please add your comments/suggestions, and I'll conduct a run-off vote in a few days. If nothing else, the results will be interesting and instructive for prospective sellers.
Thanks for your input!
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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com
860-748-8900
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Wild colors on the walls have historically been a huge turn off for my buyers. Bold, dark colors are very hard to paint over and they seem to be a challenging hurdle for most buyers.
Tile countertops. Whether it is small tiles up to large granite tiles. No one wants grout on a countertop.
Bad carpeting and bad curb appeal. Great post, look forward to reading all of the responses!
Peggy -
I'm with you on that one. Bathroom carpet gets a thumbs down.
I totally agree with dark wall colors being a turn-off. Same for tiles with grout on counter tops. Most buyers tend to not like carpet in bathrooms, but it has been in houses I've purchased and was never a problem, with children it might be different.
Pet odors are my turn-off, people just don't realize how much that dog stinks.
Low ceilings. Especially when you've been looking at homes with high ceilings, you can almost guarantee an automatic 'no, and I'm not sure why.'
Carpet in the bathrooms is terrible....tile counters in the kitchen is not far behind.
I'm with you. I point it out in every house. It's gross! Carpet and moisture aren't friends.
Carpet is one but what about the hidious paint colors some use and shag carpet is another.
It's a toss up between carpeting in a bathroom and pink toilets, sinks and bathtub in the bathroom!
I'll have to defend shag carpeting as it is very 'in' at this time. However - never in a bathroom!
Dated wallpaper is a great turn off - and a small but important thing? Dirty moldings or baseboards.
Just so you know dear realtors - if you have any of these turn offs in your listings, a certified stager can help out. Whether it's suggestions we make during a consultation, or our actual staging efforts, good staging will highlight the positives and play down the negatives. Simple as that!
Call us :-)
Mel
I can't stand to walk on carpet in the bathroom, all that comes to mind is mold and other yukky things. Please, no!
This is a great post to make public instead of Members Only...
Thanks, everyone. The responses have dribbled in and I will summarize.
Thanks, too, Penny - you may be right. I probably would have gotten more responses if it were public. I will do that.
Penny - wall to wall kitchen carpet - yuk!
Now that you know how to do pictures in your blog, where are they? LOL
Hi Bob - Well, it took me longer than I thought! I guess I still need practice!
Hi Peggy - along with all of the above, I would have to add dark wood wall paneling, which ranks with dark wall colors. If it can't be easily removed, I often suggest painting right over it. Sometimes the resulting painted texture adds interest to a room. Happy Staging - Julie
Looks like carpet in the bathroom is a definite no-no! :) I agree. To add something else, too, my input would be the outside color of the home. go neutral, people!
Hmmm, old wallpaper is my biggest turn off. Metal mini-blinds are gross. I like carpet in bathrooms.
NOT!!!
Absolutely not! Nor in the kitchen, and I do find it there sometimes on my home inspections. I also don't like wood in the kitchen or bathrooms because the wood gets damaged by water.