Now here is the grail of home sales! What is it that buyers actually want? Well, agreeably this will differ with each buyer but it's pretty easy to generalize about the things that buyers look for in a home and it's also just as easy to say what they don't want. For starters we will look at some general things that buyers like to see when looking for a new home and then we will move on to the "NO" list.
The most important thing that can be stressed here is that buyers want to see a clean home. Not just everyday clean either, they want "show home" clean. This can be hard to achieve while actually living in the home as living on a daily basis creates a mess.
It may be slight depending on how you live day-to-day but it is still going to be there. So the name of the game here is maintenance. A good idea is to get some professional cleaners in to do the initial work and then you simply have to keep the home in the same shape throughout the showings. The other major areas of interest for buyers are the appliances that come with the home. Rickety old appliances from 1970 are not likely to cause a positive reaction. Buyers like to see shiny, new, matching appliances. Another thing buyers look for is a new paint job. Take that old tired paint job and chuck it away. Nothing brings out the charm and character of a home like a new paint job. It will also drastically increase your curb appeal and the buyer's first impression of the home.
Now, what is it that buyers don't want? Most of all they don't want to have to do any additional work after moving. Most will not want to have to spend hours hacking through overgrown gardens and lawns, shampooing dirty carpets or replacing broken fixtures. It is understandable that some homes are sold in this condition as "fixer-uppers" but that is another thing altogether. Most buyers are looking for a home where they will have to put out as little money and energy as possible in making your old house into their new home. Keep these things in mind and the home selling process should be much more fulfilling, and profitable.
