For many buyers, looking for a new home can be a challenge. As
agents, we see homes daily and are well-trained on how to see past the
superficial problems and see a home for its potential. But when buyers are
looking for the home in which they plan on building their lives, it can be hard
to envision how a home could truly be ‘mine.’ Many people choose to remodel and
stage their homes prior to putting it on the market, but then there are the
vast majority of people who choose to sell their beloved home “as-is.”
While a turn-key home is ideal for people who want to move right
in and make no changes, there are those “time warp” homes that are actually
incredible gems that just need a little polishing.
As you walk through your house hunt, here are 9 things
about a for-sale home that we like to remind you to ignore in order to keep from
passing on a what could be the perfect home.
An “Older” Home
Old isn’t always synonymous with bad. Some homes built decades
ago have stood the test of time because they were built with solid, quality
materials and have a classic style. Don’t always assume that new = nicer,
either. Some newer homes are “affordable” because they were built cheaply.
Buyers should remember that there are many simple fixes for dated homes, and the
plus side of an older home is charm and character you can’t find in a brand new
build.
Paint Colors
Things that may not be a huge deterrent in the long run can
distract buyers. Buyers should ignore the existing paint choices and focus on
the structure of the room, the placement of the windows, and other more
permanent features. Paint is an incredibly easy and a cheap fix in a home and
something that can be changed in just a couple hours.
Wacky Wallpaper
Like paint, wallpaper is easily replaced or covered over. So no
matter how designed challenged the walls seem to look—it’s an easy fix.
Kitchen Appliances And Accessories
The kitchen is the heart of the home and often, the appliances
aren’t going to live up to most buyers’ dreams. As long as you leave some room in the budget, or have a
timeline to replace the existing appliances, a seller’s yellow fridge shouldn’t
be a deal breaker.
Ugly Carpet
Flooring options are getting more and more diverse and there are
now so many low-cost options that look exactly like their higher-priced
counterparts. Don’t walk away from a great house just because the floor is a
bore—or a mess.
Funky Smells
Except for a serious mold problem, there’s nothing a deep
cleaning can’t fix. Buyers should
remember to focus on the home’s bones and the potential it has when they give
the home their own touch.
Curb Appeal
If you are not saying “wow” when you first drive up, that’s ok. Perhaps
the reward awaits inside. Close your
eyes and envision a different colored front door and some new landscaping, and
presto—it might just be your dream home!
Popcorn Ceilings
It’s great at the movies, but not at home. No worries! A ceiling
specialist can come in and have it all that scrapped off. It can be a messy
issue and can be pricey, but it’s not the end of the world.
No Privacy
If the house feels too exposed and lacks privacy from next
door—there are ways to fix that. Remember “hedges make great neighbors” and there are smart solutions as to how to remedy
the issue.
This post was originally written by
Michael Corbett, Trulia
No comments:
Post a Comment