This post may contain affiliate links.
Selling a home is a big deal, and buyers can form an opinion within minutes of walking through the door. One person may see a cozy place they can call home, while another might get distracted by an old bathroom, a strange smell, or a yard that needs attention.
You don’t have to make your house perfect before putting it on the market. Most buyers expect a few signs of normal wear. Still, some issues can make a home feel harder to maintain or leave buyers thinking about the money they’ll need to spend after closing.
Taking care of a few of these problems before listing can make the house feel cleaner, brighter, and easier for buyers to picture as their own.
Outdated Kitchens and Bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms tend to get plenty of attention during a home tour. Old cabinets, worn countertops, dated faucets, and tired-looking tile can make buyers start adding renovation costs in their heads.
A full remodel isn’t always necessary. Fresh paint, updated cabinet hardware, newer light fixtures, and a thorough cleaning can make a noticeable difference without taking on a major renovation.
Related: 14 Handy Olive Oil Tricks Every Home Cook Should Know
Popcorn Ceilings
Popcorn ceilings can make an otherwise nice room look stuck in another decade. The textured surface can also collect dust and make ceilings harder to clean.
If you’re thinking about removing popcorn texture, find out when the ceiling was installed and have it tested for asbestos if there is any chance it could be present. Homes built before the 1980s deserve extra caution before any ceiling material is disturbed.
Dated Wallpaper
Wallpaper can completely change the feel of a room, and older patterns may be difficult for buyers to look past. Large floral prints, dark colors, and heavily patterned walls can make a space feel more specific to the current owner.
If the wallpaper is peeling, faded, or especially dated, removing it and painting the walls a soft neutral color can give the room a cleaner look. Buyers can then focus more on the size and layout instead of the wall covering.
Lingering Odors
A bad smell can be one of the first things a buyer notices. Pet odors, cigarette smoke, damp basements, and strong cooking smells can linger long after the original source is gone.
Before a showing, open the windows when weather permits and give carpets, rugs, upholstery, and pet bedding a good cleaning. Take out the trash and avoid cooking anything with a strong smell right before visitors arrive.
Trying to cover an odor with air freshener usually isn’t enough. Finding and cleaning the source is a much better option.
Related: 13 Unexpected Ways Rubbing Alcohol Can Help Around the House
Wall-to-Wall Carpet
Old carpet can make buyers wonder what condition the flooring is underneath. Stains, worn spots, and trapped odors can also make an otherwise clean room feel neglected.
If hardwood floors are hiding underneath, removing the carpet and having the wood cleaned or refinished may be worth considering. If replacement isn’t in the budget, having the existing carpet professionally cleaned can still make the room feel much fresher.
Clutter Everywhere
A crowded room can make a home seem smaller than it actually is. Countertops covered with appliances, overflowing shelves, piles of paperwork, and too much furniture can pull attention away from the house itself.
Before listing, pack away things you don’t use every day. Clear kitchen counters, thin out bookshelves, and remove furniture that makes walking through a room difficult.
You don’t have to get rid of your belongings. A little temporary storage can make the house easier to show and give each room more breathing room.
Converted Rooms
A garage turned into a game room or a dining room used as an office may work perfectly for your household. A buyer walking through the house may have trouble figuring out how the space was originally intended to be used.
If possible, return rooms to their original purpose before listing. A dining table in the dining room or a simple bedroom setup can help visitors understand the floor plan without having to guess.
Pets During Showings
Pets are part of the family, but they can make a showing harder for some buyers. Someone may have allergies, be nervous around animals, or simply find a barking dog distracting while touring the house.
If possible, arrange for pets to stay somewhere else during showings. It’s also a good time to look for signs of pet wear, such as scratched floors, damaged trim, stains, or lingering odors.
Related: 15 Surprising Ways Diatomaceous Earth Can Help Around the House
Staying During a Showing
It can be tempting to stay home during a showing so you can answer questions or point out your favorite features. Most buyers, though, feel more comfortable looking around without the homeowner nearby.
When sellers aren’t there, buyers can talk openly with their agent, discuss what they like and dislike, and take their time looking at each room. If possible, step out for the duration of the showing.
Dark Rooms
Good lighting can change how a room feels. A space that looks dark and gloomy during a showing may leave a different impression than one filled with natural light.
Open curtains and blinds, clean the windows, replace burned-out bulbs, and turn on the lights before buyers arrive. Trim back branches outside windows if they are blocking a lot of sunlight.
Even small changes can make rooms feel more open and inviting.
An Overgrown Lawn
The front yard is often the first part of the property a buyer sees. Tall grass, overgrown bushes, weeds, and messy flower beds can give the impression that the property needs more work than it actually does.
Keep the grass cut, trim shrubs, pull weeds, and clear away leaves or branches. A neat yard doesn’t have to look professionally landscaped. It just needs to look cared for.
A Neglected Exterior
The outside of the house can raise concerns before a buyer ever steps inside. Peeling paint, dirty siding, clogged gutters, scattered debris, and broken outdoor fixtures can make people wonder what other maintenance has been missed.
Walk around the property and look at it from a buyer’s point of view. Clean the siding, clear the gutters, sweep walkways, remove yard debris, and take care of small repairs that have been put off.
These jobs may be simple, but they can make the property feel much better cared for.
Too Many Personal Belongings
Family photos and personal collections make a house feel like home to the people who live there, but they can also make it harder for buyers to picture their own belongings in the space.
Before showings begin, pack away some family photos, large collections, trophies, and highly personal decorations. You don’t have to strip the house bare. The goal is to leave enough personality behind while giving buyers room to picture how they would use each space.
Bugs and Other Pests
Seeing ants, cockroaches, mice, or other pests during a showing can quickly make buyers uncomfortable. Even a few signs of an infestation may cause someone to wonder about hidden damage or ongoing maintenance problems.
If you’ve noticed pests, deal with the problem before putting the house on the market. Look for the source, seal obvious entry points, clean affected areas, and bring in a pest control professional if needed.
A clean, well-maintained home gives buyers fewer reasons to worry about what they might be taking on after the sale.
