Estate agent shares ‘deal-breakers’ when buying a home - ‘nothing turns off buyers faster’
Personal taste plays a big factor when buying a home so it pays to look beyond the style and aesthetics of a home. One estate agent has shared several "deal-breaker" that will "turn off buyers fast".
Sarah Beeny: Things to look out for when viewing a property
The prospect of a buyer finding a problem with a property can induce sleepless nights in house sellers.
But with expert advice, there are ways of overcoming most issues and, in many instances, avoiding them completely.
Darcy Nyrose, estate agent at Nyrose and Associates has shared their top deal-breaker to be on the lookout for.
A home that needs a lot of work
If a home looks like it will need a lot of work or money, “many buyers walk away”, according to the property pro, especially if the home isn’t priced right based on its current condition.
Obvious things people notice include the condition of the roof, old plumbing and even the age and condition of appliances.
However, “even more of a deal-breaker” is if the home inspection reveals expensive and extensive issues with the home that potential buyers did not anticipate.
Small and dark kitchen
Homeowners typically spend a lot of time in their kitchens so it makes sense that today’s buyers are looking for a cooking space that doubles as a functional area for spending time with family and guests.
For those who have a kitchen that is small, dark and uninviting, don’t despair. Darcy said: “There are some easy things you can do to make a kitchen more inviting, or just price accordingly.”
If a kitchen is “outdated”, Stephen Day, an expert at iHeat, claimed that this can also be a “deal-breaker” for potential buyers because “they’re so expensive to replace”.
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Pests
According to Darcy, “nothing will turn off a buyer faster" than walking through a house and coming face-to-face with spiders, ants, mice or other pests.
A few minor bug problems in the home is something that can be solved with a good exterminator. The best way to find out if the bug problem is bigger than it seems is by hiring a pest expert. They’ll tell you whether or not the house has any pest-related structural damage.
Bad odour
When speaking to buyers, Darcy found that they don’t want to walk into a home and smell what the sellers had for dinner or smell cleaning products designed to mask bad odours. He added: “They really don't want to smell pets, either”.
While people view a house with their eyes, their nose plays a part in what they see, too.
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The estate agent said: “More often than not if the home has a bad odour, the buyers will say ‘I just can’t picture us living here’.”
Mould
The presence of mould can be a “big deal-breaker” for many buyers as people worry about the negative health effects of mould exposure.
People who are sensitive to mould can experience coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, skin irritation, throat irritation and nasal stuffiness.
However, with solutions like hydrogen peroxide, distilled white vinegar and baking soda, mould can easily be removed.