Dirt

Bad smells

Bad neighbors

Dirty swimming pools (a problem in Phoenix, probably a non-issue in Canada)

Poor home maintenance

I have to add WEEDS......It tells a story right on up to the front door.

It's such a simple thing to take care of, too!

I recently had a picky buyer who told me to keep driving...

Poor landscaping period.  Lawns that are knee high, un-trimmed palm trees and shrubs.

Filthly homes, bad location, the neighborhood, roofs or A/C units that need to be replaced, outdated kitchens and baths

lower closed sales

Visible disrepair.

Uh, smart sellers in a buyer's market! :)

Lonn said "dirt", and I agree -- around here, the further the dirt is away from the water, the lower is the price of the home.

Dirt, smell, cruddy walls,nasty floors......Driveways and walkways that have not been maintained properly

The increasing number of competing properties and a vast nation of "wait-and-see" buyers, too uninspired to act.

Consider this: Add an auction for some action! We DO have the tools and knowledge to jump-start our industry and create a new economy. But it takes a slight adjustment in your business model and a willingness to be an early adopter in a fully sensible future business model. I'm taking the plunge and, I gotta tell ya, it feels great!

Please join me in abandoning "Business as usual".

Hi Carol & Steve,

Excellent question!

Well over 99% of the houses I sell have basements...and a dingy, dark basement(with cobwebs and burnt out light bulbs) is a killer. 1/2 inch of dirt/dust on ceiling fan blades...weeds...backyards that have been savaged by the family dog and also, very poor quality do-it yourself painting/decorating, incomplete work...the old dirty stained toilet has made me run a few times as well! lol

Donna

Colorful ,bright wall colors like fusha and busy wallpaper and worse.......when combined in the same room. Or dark wall colors, like navy or black ...

If these were not mentioned I will add Out dated flooring, roof that needs reshingling and old windows.

Uhm did anyone mention a home that is already priced $45,000 under market value but backs up to a busy road and gets 1.5 showings a day on average and STILL ISNT' SELLING?

If they did, they were talking about one of my listings! LOL

Dirty toilets and dirty appliances in the kitchen

Economic depreciation!  No getting around it.  Also, industry infringing on the neighborhood.  A lot of times I am faced with buyers who want to know what might be placed in that open field across the way...the one next to the big new car dealership that is also just down from the home we are considering.  

A note on smells:  power of plug-ins.  I'm a little paranoid about leaving things plugged in all the time at my listings, especially if they are vacant, but puppy dog smells andsmoke or stale air really affect the "feel" of a home.  I like fresh linen plug-ins because they aren't overwhelmingly fruity or citrusy (sure it's a word)...just smells fresh and clean.  

Curb appeal...All the way. Fix the fence people! You can have a wonderfully remodeled home and if the white picket fence is falling down with weeds growing around it. You will never ever get anyone inside. I have to many people assume that the inside looks just like the outside. I just showed another agents listing that was exactly this. I previewed the home, even warned them about the yard. But, they just couldn't get past it. Didn't even want to go it.

Todd

Scott:  God Bless clients who buy those homes that back up to busier streets. Got a contract the other day on one of my own.  Hang in there...

Don't you people mean unkempt condition and poor tast decoration, are the only causes that you can influence.

But you can't pick your neighbours, even though you might want to.

I think it's the advocado green bathroom suite. My parents recently updated theirs back to white and bright and my dad said "why? it was all the rage in 1975!!" <smirk>   Personally I could live with it but I've shown houses that have been really well kept but the customer has run screaming from the house when they saw the green bathroom! That and powder blue. And also these days customers hate wallpaper, especially flowered. And ivy wallpaper in the kitchen can be a deal killer because customers have visions of total redecoration and therefore make low-ball offers.