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What makes homebuyers grimace when they tour a home for-sale? One might be the family pet. (AP Photo/file)

Home for sale? Top three homebuyer turn-offs

BY Tom Kelly  on September 5, 2012 @ 7:25 am (Updated: 10:26 am - 9/5/12 )

What makes homebuyers grimace when they tour a home for-sale?

A recent article at Zillow highlighted a number of turn-offs. Here are three that always rise to the top:

Pets: Dirty kitty litter boxes or dog toys scattered in a room can turn off buyers who associate pets with unsanitary homes. Remove all traces of pets in a home and pay attention to the home's smell. Get rid of any lingering pet odors when homes are for sale.

Kid items: Don't let the kids overtake a home with toys cluttering every square inch. Also, pay attention to any sanitary or personal items involving infants, such as a breast pump, or dirty baby bottles on the kitchen counter.

Personal items: Watch the cleanliness of the bathroom and what's left on the counters. For example, make sure toothpaste residue isn't left in the sink or prescription medications are left out in the open. "Buyers want to feel clean in the bathroom ... they don't need to be reminded that they will be taking over a 'used' bathroom," according to Zillow.

Tom Kelly, Real Estate Today
Tom Kelly has been a professional journalist for 36 years. He served The Seattle Times for 20 years, many as Real Estate Editor.
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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • RAH wrote...
    4) Anything resembling any living going on......
    September 5, 2012 9:57 am
    Stark and sterile. THAT'S what sells..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RnD_Fan wrote...
    Du? :-)
    September 5, 2012 10:52 am
    It doesn't take a genius to know that:

    Pets (cats especially) STINK up a house (even in homes where the owners deny they stink)

    Kids toys mean - 'house abuse'

    A dirty bathroom means 'GROSS'

    Thanks for the 'New' info! :-)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • emw wrote...
    Really?!
    September 5, 2012 12:29 pm
    I have never had a problem selling a house that I have owned and I always had 2 kids and at least 1 dog when selling and never tried to hide those facts from prospective buyers. If they are turned off by anything above screw'em the last thing that any neighborhood needs is another couple of anal retentive DINKS.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    emw
    September 5, 2012 1:17 pm
    Amen to that :), Two thumbs way up :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    The fourth is another one offenders don't think about.
    September 5, 2012 4:17 pm
    IF you are going to be home at any time your house is shown - including leaving when after prospective buyers arrive.

    BE SOBER> enough said?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • B-Town Girl(Burien y'all) wrote...
    @ Ron
    September 6, 2012 10:19 am
    Yes, sober! I would add be awake and PLEASE be clothed. That would be very nice. Thank you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    What a moronic
    September 6, 2012 7:01 am
    story. Get rid of the toothpaste and pet stank? How low we have sunk.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • manabouttown wrote...
    what a waste of time
    September 7, 2012 6:27 am
    just more proof how much a time waster "the internet" can be. I wasted my time reading this story, and commenting on it. AND some idiot got paid to write it too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }