Jul. 10, 2012
You know you should keep your house clean if you’re trying to sell it. Surely you know. Everyone knows that, right?
So why did so many properties during our home search look like fraternity houses after an all-night party? OK, I’m exaggerating. Only one house had an empty keg in the kitchen and a garbage can full of plastic cups tipped over in the living room.
Another house featured a pile of dirty laundry on the stairs, grimy dishes stacked in the sink and overflowing onto the counter, unmade beds and more dirty laundry in the bedrooms, and shoes strewn about the hall as if left to intentionally impede our progress.
We should’ve looked past those things. Should’ve but couldn’t.
Tidiness wasn’t the only “small” detail that distracted us. Water-stained ceilings, poorly kept yards, a falling-down detached garage … none of these were outright deal killers, but they didn’t put us in a positive frame of mind, either.
Perhaps the worst was the home that smelled so strongly of mothballs that we left after about 47 seconds. Hey, it’s difficult to tour a home while holding your breath.
Point is, the little stuff can make a big difference when you want your home to appeal to buyers.
