How to avoid creating buyer nightmares

Ensuring a home attracts buyers has always been a critical part of preparing a property for sale.

Sometimes, it doesn't matter how hard you've worked to declutter and generally prepare, there may still be a risk that you could have missed something that will turn buyers away.

Follow this checklist to make sure everything is ready for that For Sale sign to go up out front.

Old school

Old furniture and a kitchen or bathroom that looks like it's taken a trip in a time machine back to the 70s will eliminate potential buyers. Modern furnishings tick all the boxes.

Wonderful but weird

Not everyone will share the tastes of a homeowner who loves painted ceilings or bright orange in the bathroom. If you've indulged your tastes, that's fine. But it's best to tone everything down to a more vanilla approach when selling.

Oh-oh odours

It's hard to nominate anything that will send your buyers back onto the streets faster than the smell of stale cigarettes. Of course, it's easy to eradicate. But buyers simply won't wander through a property smelling old cigarette smoke with a positive attitude.

Pet problem

Buyers are cautious when they see signs of pets. Most know cats and dogs will leave the occasional present around the property, and that's not their idea of a dream home.

Chucky and company

Some people hate dolls and clown masks. It can freak them out, like a Stephen King novel. The aim is to allow your buyers to picture themselves living in your home, not give them nightmares.

Dirt and dust

There's no excuse for not having your home beautifully clean for an open house or private inspection. Signs of vermin and bugs are a real turn-off. At the first sign of a spider web or cockroach, you've sowed seeds of doubt. A pest controller's assessment will be high on a buyer's priorities list.