Canadians' top five dealbreakers when buying a home
There are many factors Canadian homebuyers need to consider when it comes to making the big purchase.
Sometimes, the decision comes down to budget; other times, it comes down to checking off all of the amenities on your wishlist.
When it comes to deal breakers for Canadian homebuyers, a new Leger survey commissioned by Re/Max Canada found that what’s on the outside might matter more than what’s on the inside.
The survey found that prospective homebuyers are judging listings based on curb appeal and the state of the neighbourhood even before they stop inside the home.
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“While the home is the ultimate goal for buyers, the neighbouring properties and surrounding community often say a lot about what life might be like there for you, as a resident,” said Don Kottick, president of Re/Max Canada.
“Not all homebuyers are able or willing to see past a rough exterior to find properties with potential, and something like an unkempt streetscape could be their sign to keep on walking.”
According to Leger, 51 per cent of Canadians said that neighbouring homes in poor condition would be a deal breaker when browsing for properties, with 18 per cent ranking it as a top deal breaker.
The second biggest deal breaker is lack of curb appeal, which 41 per cent of respondents put on their list.
Here are the top five deal breakers identified in the survey:
- Neighbouring homes in poor condition (51 per cent)
- Lack of curb appeal (41 per cent)
- Room sizes were smaller than they appeared in marketing photos (40 per cent)
- Too much competition from other buyers (36 per cent)
- The home being too close to bars, restaurants and stores (28 per cent)
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Other notable turn-offs for homebuyers include untidy homes during showings (27 per cent), unhelpful real estate agents (18 per cent), and sellers being present during showings (11 per cent).
Kottick says buyers have more homes to choose from and more time to shop around, which is why sellers need to adapt to the current market conditions.
“When we talk about sellers adapting to current conditions, we’re not just referring to price adjustment,” he explained. “Sellers should be mindful of every detail of their property, including the ones that they can’t control—like the neighbour’s front lawn.
“As we gear up for the looming fall market, working with an experienced listing agent is so critical because sellers only have one chance to make the right first impression,” he added.
Re/Max shared some tips for how sellers can make their homes stand out, including clean landscaping, fresh paint, and proper outdoor lighting.
If your neighbours’ lawns are unkempt, Re/Max says planting hedges or adding greenery can block these views and create a more private, appealing environment.
Leger surveyed 1,510 Canadians online between March 19 and 24, 2025, using its online panel. Its online panel has approximately 400,000 members nationally and has a retention rate of 90 per cent. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Let us know what your home-buying deal breakers are in the comments.