Buyer Preferences

There were a few surprises in a recent Realtor Magazine report on buyer's home preferences. Garages top the most important list of features for both male & female buyers... I thought it was granite counter tops. Actually, updated kitchens rank #7 on the top 10 wish list! Master suites & plenty of storage are right below garages... go figure! Outdoor entertainment space is also important to both sexes so it's a good time for sellers to mow the grass & stage a deck or patio.

Here are the biggest turn-offs to buyers:

1. Structural damage - don't put your home on the market without addressing any structural defects. It will come back to haunt you during the home inspection!
2. Bad odors - my personal pet peeve!!! This is such an easy remedy, and there's just no excuse for pet, smoke or stale odors in a home you want to sell.
3. Busy street - you can't change the physical location of a home so it's important to consider this when pricing!
4. Awkward floor plan - this is a tough objection to overcome. Careful staging might be helpful, but the price has to reflect the challenge of a poor floor plan.