Top 10 Seller Mistakes

 

Many home sellers, especially first-time home sellers, are surprised to find that selling a home can be more complex than expected. It’s one thing to get your home ready to sell, but it’s another thing to do it right.

Here are some common costly mistakes that home sellers should avoid if they want to get the best price and sell their homes as quickly as possible.

1. Not researching your local real estate market

Before you list your home for sale, research the current real estate market. Find out what similar houses with similar features have sold for recently and what price range buyers are shopping in. This will help you determine a realistic asking price for your home and give you an idea of how long it might take to sell.

2. Underestimating costs of selling

There are several costs associated with the home selling process and sellers often overlook or underestimate expenses ranging from those initial costs of preparations and repairs all the way to those final seller closing costs. Make sure that you have an accurate estimate for all of the expenses so that there won’t be any surprises once it’s time to close escrow and get your check!

3. Pricing your home too high

Pricing a home can be tricky! If you price it too low, you could miss out on thousands of dollars in profit. Price it too high, and you could turn away serious buyers or run the risk of wasting weeks or months before you have to reduce the price to get an offer. Don’t trust the internet or your emotions. Setting the right price from the start can make all the difference in how quickly you sell your home and how much money ends up in your pocket at the closing table.

Of course, you can easily avoid these first three mistakes if you DON'T make the 4th mistake:

4. Not hiring a real estate agent

Selling your home can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve never done it before. A professional will have access to resources that you won’t have and valuable experience with the process, which means they’ll likely get more money for your property than you would on your own. Choose an agent who has experience in your area, who can help you stage your home correctly, price it competitively, and negotiate on your behalf. AND - the RIGHT agent is going to be sure you don’t make the following mistakes:


5. Failing to clean and declutter your home

Most potential buyers want their new homes to feel like theirs immediately — not like those belonging to other people. That means making sure that it’s free of clutter, smells, and unnecessary personal items that may make it hard for buyers to envision themselves living there. So before listing your house on the market, take some time to declutter closets and remove old magazines from tables and other surfaces in the living room or kitchen. Also, remove personal items like photos from walls or counters so they don’t distract buyers from seeing what’s important—how they’ll live in your home if they buy it.


6. Not making any repairs or improvements before you sell your home

If you want to ensure that potential buyers see your home in its best light, make sure it’s in good condition before putting it up for sale. This includes getting any needed repairs done, such as fixing broken fixtures or painting walls. In addition, if you’re planning on putting in new flooring or other cosmetic upgrades, now is the time to do it so buyers can see those improvements when touring the home with agents and potential buyers.

7. Putting off staging your home

If you don’t stage your home or only partially stage it, buyers won’t be able to picture themselves living there — so they might pass on your property altogether. If you’ve never staged a home before, think of it as putting on an event every time someone comes over to see your house. You want everything to look its best and appear clean and organized so that buyers will feel comfortable there and make an emotional connection with your home. Remember - buyers buy on emotion and justify later with logic! Investing in professional staging services is worth every penny - statistics show us that staging helps sell your home faster at a higher price point.

8. Overlooking curb appeal

People often focus on what’s inside a house when they buy. But curb appeal is important too. A potential buyer’s first in person impression of your home begins with what they see outside your front door. If they don’t like what they see when they drive up, they may move on without looking inside. So make sure you spend some time on landscaping and exterior paint colors, so your house looks its best from the street.

9. DIY photos

Home buyers are going to see your home for the very first time - online! So don’t skip the professional photography. Professional photographers know how to frame the photos, improve the lighting and edit the final pictures so your home appears on line as good as it appears in person - sometimes even a little better!

10. Not disclosing known property defects

If you know of any issues with your house, It is imperative that you disclose them! Some details may seem small to you - but not disclosing them can cause big problems later. Seller disclosures cannot be overlooked!