6 Minor Home Flaws That Can Make Or Break A Deal With Homebuyers

The reality is that potential buyers show up ready to find and point out flaws when browsing properties. In fact, homebuyers are showing up with bigger expectations than ever before! That’s why it’s important to look at your home with an impartial eye if you’re preparing it for the market. The good news is that most of the flaws that stop deals in their tracks are actually minor issues that can be solved. Take a look at the 6 minor home flaws that can make or break a deal with homebuyers.

Tight Closets

Influenced by celebrity trends, today’s homebuyers are looking for closet space. You may be concerned that your home lacks the storage space that will reel in serious buyers if you don’t have walk-in closets and pantries. If your home’s closets are really lacking, it may be worth finding some extra room where new closets can be added. However, the first approach is to make sure you’re maximizing the space you do have. Consider putting clutter in storage to leave your closets airy and spacious for showings. In addition, organization systems can show off just how much a closet that appears small at first glance can actually hold.

Cramped Kitchens

An open-concept kitchen seems to be on everyone’s wish list these days! Can your home sell if it has a small kitchen? Many sellers are finding that it’s worth the investment to bring down a wall in the kitchen to create an open layout. If that’s not an option, there may be other ways to make your kitchen seem bigger. If your home has a dining room, replacing your kitchen table with a new kitchen island can allow you to have the “best of both worlds.”

Ripped, Damaged or Weathered Window Screens

Don’t try to cover up ripped screens by keeping your curtains shut during showings! There’s a good chance that buyers will notice them from the outside even if you try to hide them from the inside. Nothing “dates” a home like heavy window treatments. What’s more, dusty drapers or bent blinds could be causing your rooms to appear smaller and darker. You may even be concealing attractive views of your yard if you have heavy window coverings that are in place to conceal the state of your screens.

A Patchwork System of Area Rugs

If your home has attractive wood or tile floors, you’re really doing it a disservice by covering your floors with area rugs. You may like area rugs because they protect your floors and keep your feet warm. However, “rug networks” all over your home are disorienting for buyers. This is a missed opportunity to show off your home’s beautiful, high-value flooring!

Jammed, Loose or Old Door Locks

Door locks that are noticeably old or malfunctioning really set off the alarm bells for buyers. It’s hard for a buyer to shake the feeling of unease if your door locks are in rough condition. Updating locks and handles on exterior doors can create a much more secure impression that will put a buyer’s mind at ease on both a conscious and subconscious level.

Poor Lighting

If your home has dim spots, buyers will notice. Fixing lighting can be accomplished by either updating your bulbs or adding new fixtures. The goal is to utilize overhead lighting as much as possible to make rooms appear bigger and brighter. If you’re already struggling to keep things bright using just lamps and your existing fixtures, it may be time to bring in an electrician to install some recessed lighting to modernize your home.

Final Thoughts: Little Fixes Can Bring Big Benefits

Buyers simply can’t commit to a home when it feels like something is “off.” Luckily, that feeling often comes from a small detail that can be fixed relatively easily before a home hits the market. Many sellers soon learn that trying to “hide” flaws instead of addressing them only calls more attention to these tiny imperfections. That’s why it can be so important to get a professional opinion to help you identify those “little flaws” that are going to register right away with today’s opinionated buyers.