We often buy houses to have a comfortable place to live in. and to achieve that comfort, we make lifestyle decisions or initiate home improvement projects that others would find unfavorable — if we plan on selling our property in the future.

So when the time comes to sell the property we’ve lived in for so long, we’ve made so many personal changes (and may have even neglected a few areas) that could cause potential buyers to find other houses in the local market.

To prevent this from happening, read on to find what factors make your home highly undesirable and discover the strategies you can do to avoid or fix them.

1. Regular disturbances

Houses located near airports and universities are at risk of regular disturbances from planes flying overhead, frat, and sorority house parties. The best preventive measure is to never buy properties from these areas.

Or if you already own one, install soundproof wall and attic insulation. Prevent frat and sorority houses from residing nearby by keeping a vigilant ear and immediately reporting nuisances so unruly youngsters would be evicted immediately from the area.

2. Unrealistic price tag

Before selling your property, put yourself in the shoes of potential buyers. Would you buy a house that’s priced too high? Of course not. The safest way to price your home is to get it appraised first or review comparables. Then add up the costs from the improvement projects you’ve done.

3. Bad odor

If you think your house doesn’t smell, you’re either right or just nose blind. If you’re a smoker or have pets, especially cats, chances are, your home will smell really unpleasant. Don’t think that spraying an air freshener prior to a buyer’s visit will hide the stench because it would do nothing. Potty train your animals or smoke outside. Make sure your kitchen also has proper ventilation.

4. Lack of natural light

Most people want to save electrical costs by using natural light to illuminate their homes. If a buyer sees that your house only allows a little light in or doesn’t allow any through at all, they’ll start calculating lighting costs as they tour your property. Not to mention a dark home interior also gives a vibe straight out of a James Wan movie.

Most end up with the decision of backing out from the deal. To make your home more welcoming to natural light, stage it with light-colored and see-through curtains. Open up the blinds. If your home is surrounded by trees or other vegetation that prevent sun rays from entering from the side, consider installing a skylight.

5. Malfunctioning systems

As your home ages, electrical connections, security systems, plumbing, and household appliances would eventually become outdated. Some would even malfunction. The worst part is, an issue can happen during a home tour such as a busted light switch or a burst water pipe.

While such a scenario wouldn’t immediately discourage a buyer from sealing the deal, they would still calculate repair costs and ask for a huge discount from you. Just like buying a home with a price higher than its actual value, you also wouldn’t want to sell one with a price lower than how it should be.

The preventative measures? Upgrade your systems whenever needed. Do maintenance regularly. And right before putting your home up on a list, inspect everything to see the damages so you can do the appropriate repairs or replacements.

There are more undesirable residential property factors to cover and a variety of ways to prevent or fix them. Stay tuned for the second part of this blog post.

While waiting, why not read other articles that are as useful as this one? Discover some below!

• The Biggest Mistakes Many First Time Homebuyers Make (And What To Do Instead) - Part 2
• The 7 Maintenance Skills New Homeowners Should Know
• How to Succeed In a Saturated Real Estate Market
• 7 Questions to Ask a Home Seller Before Buying
• How To Know That You’re Finally Ready To Buy A House