Do you have any “special features” in your home that may actually turn away buyers?
Ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of how the market will receive your property and, if there are some problem areas, consider fixing them to optimise your sale price.
Our handy checklist highlights some of the features that buyers generally don’t like.
Dark art
Rooms painted in dark colours often feel small and inadequate. The lack of light has the visual effect of pulling in the walls. We recommend repainting with a primer and then selecting a white or cream. Neutral tones get the best sales results.
Low-quality paint
If you decided to save a few pennies by purchasing cheaper paint a few years back, you may well live to regret it now. Flaking paint on walls and ceilings is a bad look.
Wall-to-wall
In the 70s, we had a love affair with wallpaper. But that romance is mostly dead. There’s a time and place for wallpaper, but a home covered in it from the skirting board to ceiling will not impress your average buyer.
Floor faux pas
Carpet is another 70s romance that struggles for attention. Generally, buyers prefer hardwood or floating floors. Carpets trap dust and are seen as unhealthy. They’re okay in bedrooms, but buyers don’t want them in living areas quite as much.
Too much texture
Popcorn ceilings are another outdated fashion and a common feature in apartments built in the late 1960s and through the 1970s. They were used as a form of fire retardant. However, most buyers don’t like them.
Over-cooked
Kitchens are important to buyers but over-capitalise on fancy handles, drawers and appliances. In the mid-tier and below, a functional kitchen gets the buyer’s tick.
Home theatre
If you’re into subwoofers blasting out the sound of explosions as your hero jumps from a flaming building, and you need a dedicated room to enjoy that… well, that’s great. Remember though that some buyers will be more interested in converting your home theatre back to a bedroom or a home office.
Hot tubs
Like swimming pools, many buyers consider a spa a maintenance obligation. It’s best to offer to take it with you, and then your buyer will have one less reason to ask for a discount.