1. The “Reasonably” Scary Price

Your seller might be overpricing for all kinds of reasons – emotional attachment, the need to finance a costly new home, self-sabotage, etc. But no matter the reason, an absurdly inflated price will quickly alienate potential buyers. If sellers insist on their unrealistic number, try to salvage the situation by getting them to agree to a price-adjustment timeline.

2. The Rumor Mill

When buyers are preparing for the biggest purchase of their lives, they’re easily spooked by rumors they fear could seriously impact them–like commercial development, highway construction, or zoning changes. The best way for listing agents to deal with these issues is to anticipate these questions and add up-to-date information about the “state of the neighborhood” to online listing materials or print collateral. Providing these secret “objection handlers” early can head off last minute cold-feet and overcome the “hate of uncertainty” that keeps buyers away.

3. The Lot of Little Problems

While you would prefer that buyers evaluate the house as a whole, any agent who’s been through a walkthrough knows how quickly they can go from loving it to loathing it. It only takes one turquoise wall, dated finish, or glance at shag carpeting to turn buyers off.

Details matter, so when buyers walk through a home and start compiling a mental laundry list of loose doorknobs, rickety closet doors, and broken switches, they’re going to sour on the property pretty quickly. Make sure that sellers complete the simple fixes before showings begin.

4. Seller Staging “Artistry”

If the nicest way to describe a home’s decor includes the words “eclectic,” “unique” or “unconventional,” they might need to hire a professional home stager. Explain to sellers that you have nothing against their personal style, but buyers need to picture themselves in the home, and that requires a more neutral setting. That said, if sellers insist on staging it themselves, caution them against going too neutral. If the decor is as bland and generic as a hotel room, buyers won’t see what sets the home apart.

5. The Home Has an Inner Conflict

Unless you were the one who urged the homeowners to gut their Victorian and give it an ultra-modern makeover, you can’t be blamed if a property’s interior doesn’t match the expectations buyers had based on the exterior. If you anticipate this potential deal-breaking issue, combat the buyer resistance with a price that’s hard to resist.

6. Dirt & Odors

It might be difficult to anticipate some of the issues that will turn off buyers, but there’s no question that they’ll find a filthy, smelly home repulsive. It might not be a dealbreaker, but why take the risk? Emphasize to the homeowner how crucial it is that the home is clean and neat — and that doesn’t mean shoving junk in drawers and closets, because buyers will be looking in there, too — for showings and open houses. If they’re not especially tidy, refer them to a trusted cleaning service. As for odors, whether it’s rather benign, like chili, or downright putrid, like unidentified rotting matter, strong smells make a poor first impression. Dissuade sellers from cooking any intensely-scented items before a showing, and do a walk-through to get a feel for any potential issues.

These are a few of the top sources of listing hate. What would you add to the list?