6 Home Features That Immediately Turn Away Buyers, According to Real Estate Agents

Successfully selling your home for the asking price doesn’t just entail showing off all its amenities and high points—it also involves avoiding or addressing the things that turn buyers off. And chances are, in your quest to right all the wrongs before listing your house on the market, you’ve overlooked a common problematic feature that you didn’t even realize buyers pay much attention to.

We asked agents from a few of the country’s leading real-estate companies to weigh in on what some of these turnoffs are—and some will surprise you.

Neglected Yards

Think a patch of dead grass, an overgrown lawn, unraked leaves, dead plantings, an unmaintained deck, or a cracked walkway. Your property’s outdoor areas in disarray can be as much of a dealbreaker as neglected interior repairs. It’s a game-changer to have curb appeal and an enticing backyard, says Jan Ryan, a broker owner of RE/MAX Direct.

“Even a small patch of healthy green lawn in the front yard goes a long way in making a house more attractive,” she says.

For this reason, she recommends you consult a landscaper before putting your home on the market. Or, at the very least, do some yard work yourself, whether it’s reseeding for regrowing grass or pulling out weeds.

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Old Carpet

Almost everyone has at one point encountered icky carpeting or found carpet in general to be unhygienic, once lived in by another party. (Contemplate how many years, feet, and shoes a house’s existing carpet has seen, and the ick factor goes way up.)

And depending on the era in which the carpet was installed, the color, style, make, or pile height can come off as dated and tacky. So, if you have the budget and time to rip up old carpeting and replace it with hardwood, engineered wood, or even ceramic tile floors, do it. You can always toss an area rug on the newly installed floor if you need cushiony comfort or traction underfoot while you’re waiting to close on the house sale and move.

Distracting Decor

Patricia Cooper, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker, advises you to remove and store potentially polarizing and distracting decor—such as mounted deer heads and hunting trophies—for listing photo shoots and open houses/showings.

This also extends to the outdoor areas. Yard art of any sort is a bad idea, according to Jonathan Self, a real estate broker at Compass.

Outdated Fixtures and Hardware

Be on the lookout for now out-of-style fixtures such as brass-and-crystal light fixtures, old-fashioned (circa 1980) doorknobs and bath faucets, or cabinet pulls that belong in grandma’s kitchen, according to Ryan. Many of these can be updated on a shoestring yet make a big difference in how buyers see your home.

Bad Paint Choices and Jobs

Buyers can get turned off by overly bold paint colors, whether on a single focal wall or drenching an entire room.

“That lime green accent wall might have felt fun at one point, but buyers can’t see past bold and dated colors,” says Ryan.

Instead, she recommends going neutral with paint.

While you’re at it, realistically think about your painting skills and consider hiring a professional for certain jobs, especially cabinetry. It’s actually not easy to properly paint cabinetry, according to Self.

“If I walk into a house and see more than one DIY job, it’s going to trip alarm bells: If the seller is too thrifty, I’m going to assume s/he also hired the cheapest electrician or plumber,” says Ryan.

Deferred Maintenance

In addition to sagging roofs and mold issues, buyers notice minor maintenance issues, including peeling paint, loose door handles, and dripping faucets, says Ryan.

“If they see small things ignored, they worry about the big-ticket items,” says Ryan.