As promised, here are more factors about a house that would make it hard for a buyer to make a deal with you. If you haven’t read the first part and the introduction to a property’s red flags, now is a great time to visit this article. Without further ado, let’s get straight to the second part.

1. Cluttered and confusing kitchen

Tidying up your house is essential before showing it to potential buyers and your kitchen is no exception. The same should also be said for how your kitchen is designed. Buyers nowadays are looking for spacious cooking areas.

One of the best strategies to attract them through kitchen staging is showing as few necessary appliances and items as possible and investing in space-saving storage ideas.

2. Dampness

Signs of dampness aren’t just a simple problem. It could mean that there are pipe, roof, and wall leaks. Sometimes it could be caused by high humidity. Whichever it is, dampness is highly unpleasant which could lead to the growth of life-threatening molds.

If you’re not good with a pipe wrench or hammer, it’s best to hire a pro that would thoroughly inspect your property and make the necessary repairs.

3. No parking

People who rely on their vehicles for their daily tasks would include the availability of a parking space in their house-hunting checklist. It doesn’t matter if they’re searching for a place to live in cities or the suburbs. Unless they’re looking for a place where they can just walk to work, the grocery store, restaurants, and shops.

Always make space in your property to park at least two cars. Don’t rely on the empty street because it won’t always be empty. And if your property is a condo unit, make it part of your deal to reserve a parking space for your home’s potential buyer.

4. Expensive improvements

In the first part of this article, I mentioned that an unreasonable price is a major factor to make buyers look the other way. And you know one cause of that? That’s right - expensive improvement projects.

Unless your home belongs to the luxury category, keep your upgrades simple and don’t improve what’s already good. Examples are smart home systems, energy-star rated appliances, and backyard improvements for family-friendly recreation.

5. Death or criminal activity on the property

This is a complicated topic so I’m going to tread on a fine line here. Activities of criminal nature and death that occurred in a listed property are automatic red flags. It doesn’t matter if the circumstances were intentional, natural, or not.

If we were to put ourselves in a buyer’s position, it could really infuriate us if we were to find any sad, supernatural, or criminal events that unfolded in the property when it’s already ours. So, you have to disclose any death or crime that happened in your home based on your state’s disclosure requirements.

The best advice I can offer is to consult with a local realtor who has extensive knowledge regarding “stigmatized properties”. Research about “The Ghostbusters Ruling” and the effectiveness of religious house blessings as well.

Doing regular maintenance and repairs is very important in real estate and homeownership. Although putting the effort is daunting for your home’s upkeep, it can save you a lot of money in the long run. It also allows you to sell your home faster at a fair price. However, if you don’t want to work to keep your home in good condition, be prepared to sell it “As-Is”.