How to discourage buyers from buying YOUR home

Posted by Christina Bieniek on Wednesday, September 14th, 2016 at 9:53am.

Sometimes sellers ask me of ideas how to improve the saleability of the home, and the advise usually varies in each individual case. But in general it can be all summarized into a short list of things to do.

So, if you 're listing your home for sale, then of course you'll want to make the best impression possible on potential home buyers- and sell your home faster, for more money. But, just to have a little fun, say you don't want to sell your property. What could you do to discourage those who are viewing your home?

Well, you could have your pets in the home during viewings. Dogs, cats, or better yet - snakes and iguanas. That will certainly make it uncomfortable for some buyers. Especially, if they have certain types of pet allergies. You and could also leave personal items around, such as family pictures and trophies. That will make it more difficult for the buyer to imagine himself and his family living there. It might even make him feel a bit like an intruder! Clutter in bedrooms, closets and other areas of the home will make these spaces feel less spacious then they really are, as well as make visitors uncomfortable. If you really want to turn off a buyer, then don't bother doing any minor repairs. A dripping tap, dent in the wall, hole in the door, flickering light, or other maintenance issues are certain to gain buyer's attention. The more potential buyer sees - the lesser the chances of him thinking of writing the offer on your home.

If all that doesn't scare away a buyer from your home, then stick around during a viewing and follow him and his family from room to room. That will certainly make him feel uneasy.

Of course, we're just having a little fun here.

When you put your home on the market, you want to sell it. It's easy to avoid all the pitfalls described above and ensure potential buyers appreciate the full value of your home, so try to do just the opposite.

So when you're preparing for a showing, think of ways you can make your property appear it's best, and make the buyer feel welcomed and comfortable viewing it.

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