Red Flags 
Undesirable house features that can negatively impact its marketability, appeal & value.

The list below is a compilation of "red flags" that buyers have mentioned to me over the years, as their reason for hesitating about purchasing a particular home.

If your home has any of these undesirable conditions, you should consider

1. Remedying (or minimizing) the defect (if possible)
   
   
2. Or (if it is an incurable defect) pricing your house more attractively with the hope of attracting a buyer who is willing to overlook the undesirable condition for "the right price".

Unfortunately, while some of these “red flags” are curable, some are not. If your home has an undesirable condition that is incurable, the only way to improve its marketability would be to price it attractively.

The List Of Red Flags
Link To Printable Version of Red Flags Article

Overpricing (curable)
Price is the most important part of the marketing plan. Your best chance to sell a home occurs within the first three weeks that it is on the market. Overpricing can cause a home owner to lose his/her best opportunity to sell a home successfully.

High Property Taxes (possibly curable - the property’s assessment can be appealed)
Property taxes are NOT just part of the mortgage payment. Every buyer knows that the mortgage balance decreases with every payment but property taxes are forever and will probably only increase over the years.

Problem Location
You can’t change a location. You’ve heard it before but … real estate values are based on three things: 1) location, 2) location & 3) location. Properties on busy streets, in noisy locations, etc. can only be made more appealing by means of discount pricing.

Unusual Or Dated Architecture
Traditional homes are always in demand. On the other hand, “architecturally unique” homes can sometimes be difficult to sell. A “contemporary style” home from the 1960’s is no longer contemporary … it’s dated (& maybe even outdated) architecture.

Non-Traditional Floor Plan
Over time, many homeowners have expanded their homes by enclosing a porch or adding a room to quickly meet their need for more space. However, while their homes may have more space (square footage), if the rooms are not arranged in a traditional & functional manner with which most home buyers are comfortable, the floor plan won't be suitable for the majority of home buyers and the home's appeal & value will be limited.

Disrepair or Neglected Maintenance (curable)
Every home buyer’s fear is that they will purchase a “money pit” of never ending repairs. Well maintained, move-in condition homes sell quickly & for top dollar, while homes in disrepair linger on the market until someone comes along who is willing to put the house back in shape if they can get it for the "right price" (below market value).

Main Floor Below Street Level
If all you can see as you drive by the home is the second floor or the roof of the house, the appeal of the home is going to be severely limited.

Too Many Stairs To The Front Door
Buyers recognize that they will have to enter and leave the home several times each day. Carrying groceries and/or children will be a major, daily physical event in a house with too many stairs. To live with this daily inconvenience, buyers expect a bargain price.

Personalized Decor (curable)
This is a curable condition that should be addressed before placing any home on the market. The rule of thumb in preparing a house for sale is to lighten, brighten, un-clutter, neutralize, and de-personalize the home. Buyers have difficulty envisioning themselves living in a house where the decor clashes with their personality. Use neutral colors and put away the “moose heads”, gun racks, political posters, religious artifacts, and family photographs.

Worn Or Outdated: Appliances, Kitchens Or Baths (curable)
These are curable defects that will adversely impact the sale of the home. Modern, updated homes sell quickly. Tired, outdated homes do not.

Little Or No Useable Yard
Houses with no backyard or a steeply sloped property will definitely have less appeal and, consequently, less value.

No Basement Or Crawl Space
Many home buyers are buying a home because they need more space to store their “stuff”.
No basement = no storage = tough sale.

No Garage
One of the amenities buyers expect with a home is a place to park and store the family cars. A two car garage is almost a necessity for the average family and 3+ car garages are the rule rather than the exception in today’s luxury homes. Most homebuyers are disappointed at having to settle for a house with a one car garage. It goes without saying then that a house without a garage will have very limited appeal. Having a large paved, parking apron may help to offset this home deficiency.

No Driveway Or Off-Street Parking
Not having off-street parking means you may be forced to search for a parking spot every day, you may have to walk a distance from your car to your house and you will be subject to ever-changing municipal parking regulations.

Steep Driveway
A steep driveway just makes living in the home more difficult. It’s difficult to unload things from the car, kids can’t play in the driveway, guests have to climb (or descend) Mt. Everest when they visit and ice & snow conditions present an extra special challenge.

Shared Driveway
A shared driveway involves shared responsibilities, shared maintenance and restricted use. As a result, there is a fear of potential disputes with the driveway’s other “partner(s)”. Having a clear explanation of the conditions under which the driveway is shared plus an accurate up-to-date survey showing how much is owned (or not owned) by each party may help to alleviate some of the concerns.

Flag Lot
Named for their resemblance to a flag on a pole, these plots have a long, slender strip of land (the pole) extending from the street to the typically rectangular main part of the lot (the flag). Flag lots are often less desirable to homebuyers and are usually cheaper than more standard-shaped lots. This is because flag lots are surrounded by other homes' backyards, which can reduce privacy and curb appeal.

Flat Roof
I know they are more likely to leak.
You know they are more likely to leak.
And, buyers know they are more likely to leak.

Electric Heat
With the advent of high efficiency heat pumps and the use of solar energy, this has become less of a concern, however, if your home is heated exclusively by an electric forced air furnace or electric baseboad radiators, the expense of heating the home will be a deal-killer for many buyers. FYI - Our area has one of the highest electrical rates in the country … need I say more?

Elevated Radon Levels (curable)
A do-it-yourself radon test costs about $75.00. If the test indicates you have an unacceptable radon level, it will cost about $2,000 to remedy the problem. A high radon reading can kill a sale and stigmatize the house’s reputation.

Underground Fuel Storage Tank (UFST) (curable)
Buyers know that sooner or later all underground storage tanks are going to leak. If you have an underground fuel tank, have it tested (or replaced) and then obtain tank insurance, if available.

Asbestos (curable)
The presence of asbestos in a home is a major concern whenever the abestos containing material (ACM) is exposed & friable. Friable asbestos is a word used to describe any loose asbestos or any asbestos containing material (ACM) that can easily be crumbled when touched. The two conditions that are of most concern are loose vermiculite insulation in attics and exposed heat pipes wrapped with asbestos insulation. If your home has either of these conditions, you should consult with an asbestos removal contractor about your options.

Competition From New Construction In The Area
New construction is presumed to be problem-free simply because it is new and it usually comes with a warranty. Make sure your house is as close to problem-free as possible and then feature it as “better than new”.