Top 15 Things Toronto Buyers (And Their Agents) Hate When Looking At Homes For Sale

By Thomas Cook • October 1st, 2009

If you’re thinking of selling your house or condo in the near future, you need to look at this Top-15 list and make sure your home doesn’t fit any of these situations. You may be losing thousands of dollars if you don’t.

Buyers take note too… some of these can apply to you as well.

This list was compiled by several agents and here’s what they said…

  1. The things that bother me most when showing homes includes the seller or listing agent being there trying to discuss all the wonderful features. I find so often the buyers say that one of the items that they owners paid a ton of money for they absolutely hate. It actually turns them off from buying as they almost feel guilty tearing it out or feel like they are paying tens of thousands of dollars extra for something they do not like. If the seller or listing agent were not there they would likely just say they do not like this or that, or would not even give it a thought on a first showing due to their attention not being brought to that one feature.
  2. Truly messy homes especially ones where shoes, undergarments or dirty laundry are on the floor or bed. You kind of expect it in Power of Sale homes, but I have seen it too often in luxury homes also.
  3. While showing a home to a couple with young children, as we entered the master bedroom on the walls there were fairly revealing pictures of every kind and description. Needless to say I ushered the couple and their children out as fast as possible
  4. Pet deposits and unfriendly odors will kill any sale. There is no excuse for listing a property without doing something to mitigate odors and pet deposits.
  5. I think asking visitors to take off their shoes is a plus, not a minus. I tell my buyers that since this might be their home soon, we don’t want to track dirt into their house.
  6. The front door key either doesn’t work or is very hard to make work – and no front porch light on to help see what the problem is.
  7. An occasional missing light bulb is forgivable in a vacant property but it would help if agents who show the property would alert the sellers agent when they find a light bulb missing.
  8. Owners who insisit on being present for showings & prevent you from talking with your client.
  9. High-end homes with picture hanging nails still left in the walls or nail holes that are not filled in and repainted.
  10. The friend or relative who accompanies the client and takes the role of real estate consultant. They always believe they know more than the buyer agent who is genuinely trying to guide their buyer with integrity. The friend also may not know the buyer’s complete financial picture – they’ve told their buyer agent but didn’t necessarily want to share that more personal information with the friend!
  11. Unexpected (and not real friendly) dogs on the loose in a house when we’re showing. Even “dog people” are affected; especially when we’re not told beforehand. Snakes and reptiles spook most people as well.
  12. On the buyer’s side of the equation is letting their young kids run wild through the homes – It’s very distracting to their parents. Better that the kids stay home with a sitter so the parents can really look at what features the homes offer. Parents also run the risk of their children breaking something that could cost them a lot of money to replace.
  13. Overgrown flower gardens or lawns, things that distract from the curb appeal and give a bad first impression.
  14. Sellers who put restricted showing times on viewing their homes – often buyers are working many hours and only have certain times available to look at homes and then we find we can’t make an appointment. Of course there are sometimes personal circumstances which might limit the showing times but definitely try to keep these to a minimum. You might be missing out on the perfect buyer.
  15. Sellers and listing agents who don’t actually seem to want to sell the property. They require an appointment made either with the agent or the seller, but they never return phone calls!

From the listing agent’s point of view, we’d like buyer agents to be sure to lock all the doors of the home when they depart and to be respective of the seller’s home when they’re on the premises – take shoes off and not leave any garbage around when heading out the door.

And finally, if their showing is going to be late or be cancelled altogether, to please call the listing agent’s office and have them notify the seller of the change.

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