While you may love your home and think it’s pretty close to perfect, chances are that not all home buyers will feel the same.
Fortunately, most house hunters realize that most houses aren’t going to check every box on their wish.
But deal breakers do exist. A recent survey asked home buyers and sellers to share the home features that were the biggest turn-offs.
When asked which features cause an immediate “no,” a few issues pop up over and over again.
Here’s what every home seller needs to know about the 5 biggest reasons buyers aren’t buying homes.
Number 5: Lack of Garage
For almost a third of home buyers, no garage means no deal. But let’s be real: a garage is a nice-to-have, not a must-have for most house hunters.
Only 63 percent of U.S. homes have garages. In fact, in many urban areas, garages are practically non-existent.
If storage is the issue, it’s easy to pop a storage shed in the yard.
Given that the cost to build a garage ranges $11,000 to over $100,000, most homeowners do not want to have to add a garage just to help their home sell.
Number 4: Inadequate Bedrooms
Look, you could make your kids share rooms. You could stick your home office into the corner of the living room.
But 37 percent of home buyers simply aren’t willing to compromise on bedroom space.
Of course, building another bedroom may be an option… for those with the funds.
Adding a bedroom costs from $10,300 to almost $25,000, and that’s just the for the basics. For many homebuyers, inadequate bedrooms aren’t worth the hassle.
Number 3: Roof Repair or Replacement
Imagine falling in love with a house, only to learn it needs a new roof.
Given that this project costs an average of $5,500 to $10,600, it’s no surprise that 40 percent of home buyers would take a hard pass.
Not only is roof work one of the most expensive home repairs, it’s also a necessity. Roof fixes top the list of appraisal-required repairs.
Plus, many mortgage lenders require that a roof have at least three years of life left before they’ll approve a loan.
When was the last time your roof was inspected or repaired?
The frequency with which you have to replace your roof varies depending on the type of material and climate, but many homeowners need to replace their roofs every 12-20 years.
Even if you haven’t lived in your home that long, it’s possible the previous owner left you with a worn roof.
Number 2: A/C Issues
For 46 percent of house hunters, a non-functioning (or worse, a non-existent) air conditioning unit is a deal-breaker.
Costs to install a new A/C unit run upward of $5,500, and that’s not even counting ductwork or other parts and labor costs.
If the unit is broken, HomeAdvisor estimates average repair costs range from $160 to $550. But if the house doesn’t have A/C at all, installing a central system can cost more than $10,000.
That’s a lot of money to pour into a home… and it’s no wonder this fix turns almost half of homebuyers off.
Number 1: Foundation and Structure Problems
Coming in first on the deal-breaker list: Structural issues. Given the expense involved in fixing foundation problems, it’s not hard to see why 60 percent of respondents mentioned this issue.
Foundation problems are costly, with an average repair ranging from $1,800 to $6,700. In many cases, a fix involves gutting the house.
Most homeowners end up paying more than $4,000 to fix structural issues.
If hydraulic piers are involved, costs may run well over $10,000. That’s intimidating to all but home buyers with the deepest pockets!
You’ve probably noticed that all the elements on this deal-breaker list have something in common: Fixing them is an expensive hassle.
Why put yourself through the stress when you have an alternative?
HomeGo buys houses as-is — that means no repairs, no fixes, no out-of-pocket costs for you. In most cases, you receive a same-day offer.
Best of all, you won’t have to worry about repairs and upgrades of any kind. Instead, just sell your home as-is and move on to the next chapter of your life.
