Don’t be this guy! Avoid these top home selling mistakes.
Home Selling Mistake #1: Pricing your home too high
Eek. This one is FAR too common and ultimately causes sellers to walk away with less money from the sale than if they had listed at a competitive market price from the beginning. “Building in buffer” is a tactic of the past! Modern buyers have access to more data and tools than ever before, and they’re equipped to make a fair offer on your home. Price your home competitively, and sit back and enjoy watching the buyers compete over your house (or be the seller that lists to high and wonder each and every day where the buyers are at…)
Home Selling Mistake #2: Listing before the house is ready for market
Not preparing adequately can be a costly mistake. Many sellers want to hit the market as soon as possible, but unfortunately you only get one first impression. Really consider the recommendations of your trusted professional. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, investing in staging, or simply swapping out the large photo at the entry of family reunion 1999, it will be worth it!
Home Selling Mistake #3: Trying to list FSBO first
Hello DOM clock! DOM = days on market. Many sellers think they’ll “just try” to sell on their own, and if that fails, they’ll call an agent. Unfortunately, this doesn’t usually pan out quite like you think it will because you’re likely not putting the home’s best foot forward. Leveraging the knowledge of a trusted professional can allow your home to reach its greatest potential! And why not do that the first time around? Otherwise, the days on market clock just ticks, and buyers start to wonder what could be wrong with your home or why it hasn’t sold yet…
Home Selling Mistake #4: Getting emotional during negotiations
This one can be tough because you LOVE your home. We get it because we love ours too! But, when it’s time to list you must try your very best to remove ‘you’ and your memories from the physical house. Just because the buyer asks you to repair the leaky faucet as a result of their inspection notice, they’re not horrible people. And you’re not a bad homeowner. They just want the leaky faucet repaired – nothing more, nothing less. Spending the time and money to make some repairs is typically less costly than the stress that can come of trying to analyze the “why” behind each and every request.
Home Selling Mistake #5: Skipping professional listing photos
Stop right there! By now, you likely know how we feel about hiring a professional photographer to make your listing shine! But in case you don’t (as some people still forego this crucial step in the listing process), hiring a professional photographer is a MUST! The two dimensional photos that come up on a prospective buyer’s screen are how that buyer decides if they even want to click to the next photo and ultimately if they want to schedule a showing at your home. Photos get people in the door! It’s as simple as that.