8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

You have decided to say goodbye to your current home and move elsewhere. Maybe you're downsizing to something more comfortable, or perhaps your family needs more space. Whatever the reason, you now have to list your current home. The faster it sells, the better shape you'll be in, financially and mentally. Before you start the process of selling your home, check out these 8 common mistakes that many people make when they put their homes on the market. Save yourself the stress and do it right the first time!

Mistake #1: Using Sub-Par Photos

When you're listing a home online, you need some really fantastic photos that show off your house to the best advantage. Avoid using the photos of the backyard that Uncle Bob took at your last barbecue, or the photo of the front of the house that includes you in your board shorts, mowing the lawn. If you know someone who is a good photographer, ask that person to come by the house on a clear, sunny day and take pictures of your home, inside and out. You'll need to have it clean and clutter-free, and the lawn and backyard should be in great shape. If the photos you get don't look amazing once they are uploaded, scrap the entire bunch and hire a professional photographer. Your online listing is going to pass under the eyes of dozens of prospective home buyers, and you want them to stop scrolling and click on your home.

Mistake #2: Not Cleaning Up

If you're working with a realtor, you have probably heard their staging suggestions for your home. Chances are, they have told you to pack some stuff up and put it in storage, arrange decor items attractively, and remove any junk. This may sound like a lot of unnecessary work, but cleaning up the place really does help your home to sell. Your prospective buyers want to see a house that's neat, clean, and spacious. Clear out the clutter, pack up the personal items, and let the buyers see the potential in the space.

Mistake #3: Showing a Bare House

Cleaning out the clutter doesn't mean that you should leave your home empty. Buyers need to see what the home could look like with furniture and a few charming accessories. If you have already moved out of the home, consider hiring a staging company to come in and place furniture and other items. It's a small investment up-front, but it will pay off when buyers come back to you with a good offer.

Mistake #4: Failing to Deal with Repairs

You may think that by knocking a bit off the price, you can skip the repairs that your home needs and still sell it. However, with a little investment of time and labor beforehand, you can present a much better product to potential buyers. When buyers see a house in pristine condition, they are more likely to be willing to pay your list price. By investing a little money in advance, you will actually make more on the house.

Mistake #5: Miscalculating Your Home's Worth

Without the help of a realtor, it's hard to know how to value your home. You need to understand the comparables in your neighborhood. Comparables are houses like yours, in the same area, with similar features. Once you know what those houses are worth, you can estimate what your house's value may be. It's a mistake to over-price your home, since you may turn off potential buyers— but it's also a mistake to under-price it, hoping that it will sell faster. The low price makes buyers wonder what's wrong with the place, and they may pass over your listing instead of checking it out.

Mistake #6: Letting an Offer Offend You

Whether you're working with a realtor or selling the home on your own, you're probably going to have to negotiate with buyers. Of course, you could get lucky and have a buyer come in with your asking price; but in most cases, the buyer is out to get the best possible deal, and that means a bit of haggling. It's easy to feel personally offended when someone enters the playing field with a low-ball offer, but try not to let your personal feelings affect your objective view of the situation. The offer isn't intended to snub you or your home— it's simply the buyer's way of testing the waters. Be polite, but come back with a more reasonable offer, one that you're willing to accept. If you have a realtor, this part of the process is much easier, since you can have your realtor do all the direct dealings with the potential buyers.

Mistake #7: Overlooking Fees and Expenses

There are a number of fees and expenses involved with selling a home, and if you're not careful, they can really take a bite out of your savings. Take some time to do your research and find out what to expect on closing day and throughout the weeks leading up to it. A real estate agent can be extremely helpful here, advising you as you plan for those expenses.

Mistake #8: Thinking You Can Do It Alone

You want to save money, simplify the process, and have full control over all aspects of the sale; so you decide to sell your home yourself, with no assistance from a professional realtor. It's understandable to want those savings, and you may believe that you can move faster without a real estate agent. However, the numbers show that people who try to sell their homes themselves usually take much longer to close a deal— and they often end up selling for much less than they wanted. Do it right from the beginning! Call us today, and we'll streamline the process, share selling strategies, and help you get a good price for your house.