Contrary to what we see on most home transformation TV shows, everyone’s not on the same page when it comes to home design. One person could walk into a postwar bungalow and fall in love with the original bathroom with pastel pink fixtures and tiles, while the next person who views the home sees it as a dealbreaker.
But in the grand scheme of complaints about a home, decor is among the least problematic. Here are a few examples of dealbreakers for potential homebuyers that you’ll want to take care of before putting your house on the market.
Common dealbreakers for potential homebuyers
Unless you’re selling the home as-is at a price that reflects the amount of work the house requires, it’s usually a good idea to take care of its biggest problems before putting it on the market. According to a 2022 survey by HomeAdvisor, these are some of the most common dealbreakers for homebuyers:
Cracked walls or ceilings
Ceilings and walls crack for a number of different reasons. In some cases, they’re signs of an underlying structural issue, water damage, or poor workmanship.
Other times, they’re simply a result of the natural settling of the foundation, or expanding and contracting as the temperatures change seasonally. Either way, fix the underlying issue, or make the cosmetic changes to get rid of the cracks before listing the house.
Exterior problems
Curb appeal is one thing, but when people see damaged or discolored siding, or obvious weatherproofing issues in part of the home’s exterior, it may be enough for them to walk away.
Noticeable flaws in the foundation
Even if someone doesn’t know a lot about home construction, if they can easily spot major cracking, sagging, or other flaws in the foundation, they’ll also likely see major expenses in their future.
A significant number of repairs needed
Unless the house is being sold as a fixer-upper, a potential homebuyer shouldn’t be able to walk through the home and find multiple necessary repairs.
While they might have some leeway when it comes to homes that clearly haven’t been remodeled in decades, if a house has recently been updated or flipped, shoddy craftsmanship is a major red flag.
Whether it’s the work of a contractor who cut corners, or a DIY project gone wrong, a potential homebuyer isn’t going to want to deal with someone else’s mistakes.