Minnesota Home Selling Strategies by Joe Houghton

Pet Odor Can Chase Away Buyers — Here's How to Fix It Love Your Pets? So Do I. But Buyers May Not Love the Smell. As a pet owner and longtime Realtor, I totally understand the challenge: your home is clean, well-maintained, and ready to sell — but there’s a lingering odor that’s hard to ignore. Unfortunately, pet smells are one of the top deal-breakers for buyers , even if they love animals themselves. When you're selling your home in the Twin Cities, first impressions are everything. If buyers walk in and are hit with the scent of dogs, cats, or litter boxes, they immediately start to question whether the home has hidden issues — or worse, they can’t envision themselves living there at all. Why Pet Odors Matter So Much to Buyers It triggers emotional reactions — Buyers don’t want to feel like they’re inheriting someone else’s problems (or pets). It raises concerns about cleanliness — Even if the home looks spotless, lingering odors suggest deeper issues. It...

The Do’s and Don’ts of Homebuyer Incentives Should You Offer Buyer Incentives When Selling Your Home? As a seller, it's natural to want your home to stand out. But should you offer buyer incentives — like covering closing costs, paying for new carpet, or throwing in a flat-screen TV? The short answer: sometimes. But it depends on the market, the property, and how your offer compares to the competition. When Buyer Incentives Can Help In a buyer’s market — or when you're selling a home with dated features or unique floorplans — strategic incentives can tip the scale in your favor. I've seen incentives used successfully to: Offset cosmetic flaws — Like offering a $3,000 flooring allowance instead of replacing outdated carpet. Attract first-time buyers — Covering part of the buyer’s closing costs can be a big win for FHA or VA buyers. Differentiate from the competition — If your home is comparable in price and features to nearby listings, a thoughtful inc...