Image: Jim Steinfeldt/Micheal Ochs Archives/Getty Images
About This Quiz
When selling your home, there are many factors that may negatively affect its value over which you have little or no control, like the unattractive color of your neighbor's house. There are, however, some things that you can avoid doing to make your home more attractive to prospective buyers. Take our quiz to find out the top five things that may devalue your house.
Which factors contribute to how much your home is worth?
its location
its condition
both of the above
Many factors contribute to how much your home is worth. In addition to its location and its condition, factors such as your school district, the number of similar houses on the market and the number of buyers looking for new homes can greatly influence your home's value at a given moment.
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Which type of house is most likely to sell quickly and easily?
a highly customized house
a house suited to many tastes
If your house is designed to suit a large portion of the population, your prospects for selling quickly and easily are better than if your home is highly customized. The more people looking for your type of house, the more likely you are to find a buyer.
a house in bad repair
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Which of the following can turn off a prospective buyer for your home?
a neighbor's unattractive house color
a noisy business on your block
both of the above
It may be hard to believe, but when your neighbor paints his house a sickening shade of puce, it could affect the value of your home. A prospective buyer may shy away from buying a home on a block where there are unattractive homes or noisy businesses.
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Which of the following can turn on a prospective buyer for your home?
a well-cared-for lawn
Prospective buyers are usually impressed by a well-cared-for lawn. If you've buried the family pet in your backyard, it probably makes sense not to mention it.
a pet grave
artificial decorations
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Which types of plants may detract from the value of your home?
begonias
rose bushes
plants that require a lot of maintenance
Plants that require a lot of maintenance, plants that make a mess on the neighbor's property and plants that can damage your home's structural elements may all detract from the value of your home.
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Which paint color should you choose for your home's exterior to appeal to the widest group of potential buyers.
bright colors
pastels
neutral colors
Neutral colors like beige and cream are considered the most likely to appeal to a wide group of people. If you really want to be sure, consider hiring a color consultant to help you choose.
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Which type of paint should you choose for your home's interior to appeal to the widest group of potential buyers?
matte
As in the case of your home's exterior, stick to simple paint choices for the interior when trying to attract potential buyers. Textured finishes seem to annoy some people, especially when they think about the hassle of the de-texturing process.
glossy
textured
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What's the best way to determine if a remodeling project will add to the value of your home?
Ask your friends.
Ask your mother-in-law.
Ask a professional.
Before you decide to renovate any part of your home in the hope of increasing its value, ask a professional for guidance. You can get suggestions from realtors and designers on what works with potential buyers.
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How can an expensive kitchen remodel backfire when selling your home?
It may not suit a potential buyer's tastes.
It may not suit a potential buyer's needs.
both of the above
It's always tricky to undertake a major remodeling job for the sole purpose of increasing the value of your home. It may not suit a potential buyer's tastes or needs and they may not be willing to compensate you for your investment.
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Which type of upscale floor seems to be most popular with prospective home buyers?
hardwood
It's a good idea to invest in new flooring for your home in order to increase its value before putting it on the market, but choose carefully. It's usually best to stick with classics like hardwood or tile.
linoleum
vinyl flooring
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You Got:
/10
Jim Steinfeldt/Micheal Ochs Archives/Getty Images
