When it comes to real estate selling, it’s easy for homeowners to overlook detritus. Dust-laden lights. Dirt-encrusted appliances. Countertop clutter. Over the years, all the issues within the home simply blend into the background. However, these issues shout out to buyers. The kitchen is the heart of the home. When it’s not looking its best, it can give potential buyers a heart attack – and send them screaming for an alternative place to shop.
When is it Time for the Seller to take Intervention?
If your listings are lagging, consider if kitchen cleanliness may be the cause. Always take action, informing sellers when you see these showing detractors:
– Trash: Real estate selling 101 – Take the trash out. Its smell turns off buyers. If a home looks or smells unclean, buyers will assume it’s uncared for.
– A Preponderance of ‘Stuff’: The kitchen tends to be ground-zero for stockpiled stuff. Cohabitating with clutter may be just fine for homeowners, but it detracts from the home, making the kitchen look small and useless.
– Animal Stuff: Fecal-containing ‘potty pads’ and litter boxes send buyers for-the-hills.
– Weird Stuff: Hair salon chairs, exercise bikes, and taxidermy supplies do NOT belong in the kitchen. If it’s not what Martha Stewart would showcase in her kitchen, clear it out.
– Grease Bombs: Fryers filled and coated in grease, grease-splattered hood ranges and walls, and the lingering scent of the drive-thru in the air do not make for a welcoming kitchen environment. A friendly gift of degreaser and a box of Magic Erasers may be in order.
– Pests: Pest droppings = pest infestation. (Battling pests? Hide the evidence.)
– Filthy Appliances: Buyers often take a peek in (and under) appliances to gauge the level of care homeowners dedicate to home care.
Homes lingering on the market? Don’t let your turnaround times take a hit. Step-up your game with these and other real estate selling tips and technology from PropertiesOnline today.