'People either love it or they hate it': Decor elements that deter buyers

Preparing your house to go on the market is never easy. From the seemingly never-ending cleaning duties to those small, but necessary, home repairs that will ensure your abode is looking its very best.

But, while the home is a great place to showcase your personality, some of your decorating choices could prove to be a turn off by the time your first open home rolls around. Here are a few decor elements to steer clear of:

Overly personalised spaces

Harcourts agent Amy Hooper said overly personalised spaces were often a turn off for potential buyers.

“Say, for example, you’ve got really intense colours in your home, people are going to walk in and say, ‘oh, I can’t see myself living here’ because it isn’t to their taste,” Hooper said.

Paula Comber, of Comber and Comber Interiors + Home Staging, recommended home owners “pare everything back”.

A gallery style hallway lined with framed family photos was another no no for wannabe sellers. The best advice was to take those portraits down ahead of the first open home – nothing quite like the current occupants staring at you from every wall to stop you imagining yourself living there.

In saying this, don’t remove every sign of life from a home, Comber said it was all about “finding a balance”.

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Wallpaper

Bold wallpaper is certainly enjoying a renaissance but but as much as you might adore the palm leaf-themed wallpaper in your powder room, don’t be surprised if prospective buyers aren’t crazy about it.

“People either love it or they hate it,” Hooper said.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule. While some people “over do it” with bold wallpaper, Hooper said sometimes a single feature wall could “look cool and quirky if it fits the theme of the house”.

Rid your home of “work”

Comber recommended removing “anything that is related to work or doing household chores”.

This includes: toilet brushes, shampoo and conditioner bottles, bath mats and any other cleaning or personal hygiene products.

While you obviously shouldn’t throw these items out (you still need to live in the house), she said you should hide them from view before each open home.

Converted garages

You might think it was a clever idea to transform your under-utilised garage into a man cave or media room, but your garage transformation could leave you kicking yourself on auction day.

Visitors might love the way you’ve used the space, but she said not having a garage is probably one of the biggest turn offs from a buyer’s point of view.

The jury is out on pools and spas

Some people love having a pool or spa in their backyard, while others couldn’t think of anything worse.

Many perceive pools to be a safety hazard, especially if they have young children, while others were turned off by maintenance costs.

On the other hand, Hooper has never come across a person who was disappointed by a house having a spa pool.

“Spa pools are a total turn on,” she said. “I’ve yet to come across anyone who doesn’t like the idea of a spa pool because at the end of the day they’re quite easy care and they just seem to have a luxury feel about them.”

Small change, big impact

Little things such as decluttering and cleaning your skirting boards and windowsills could make the world of difference at an open home.

Comber said you should style your house so that there is “no doubt in people’s minds that they will fit in the space”.

The home should feel like somewhere you would want to kick off your heels, sink into a chair, and relax.

If you’re still at a loss for what to do, opt for a less is more mentality.

Hopper recommended taking a leaf out of a home stagers book by selecting subtle furniture, which looks nice but also doesn’t distract from what people are really there to see…the house.

• This story originally appeared on stuff.co.nz