Home features — and whether they add to or detract from a property — are highly subjective. For example, a large backyard might be a non-negotiable for a family with small children, but a single buyer might actually see too much property as a downside. In other words, some features that attract you to a property might actually turn other people off about that same property.
And while differing opinions are fine, there are certain home features that, while you might love them, could actually make it harder to sell the property in the future.
So what, exactly, are those features? According to a recent article from realtor.com, features that could make it harder to sell your home (even if you personally love those features) include:
- Being located next to a school. If you have kids, buying a home that’s right next to their school could seem like a major selling point. But not everyone has (or likes!) kids. For those people, having a home so close to a school (and all the noise and traffic that goes with it) could be the opposite of a selling point.
- Being located near (or on) a busy street. If you want to live in a lively area and like to walk everywhere, buying a home next to a busy street full of restaurants, coffee shops, and stores probably feels like a no-brainer. But a lot of buyers are looking for a property that feels quiet and private. Being too close to a busy street generally translates to a lot of car and foot traffic, which is neither quiet or private and can turn off some buyers.
- A swimming pool. For some people, having a swimming pool feels like the ultimate “I made it!” home feature. But for others, a swimming pool feels like way too much work and upkeep. So, if you’re part of that first group, just realize that not everyone feels the same way about pools, and when you decide to sell, your “I made it!” feature could actually make the home harder to sell.