Mistakes To Avoid Selling Home

Mistakes to Avoid Selling Home

Selling a home seems like a much easier job than trying to buy one. While there’s undoubtedly less paperwork when selling your home, it is not as simple as listing it, and it sells. Many sellers out there will make mistakes when trying to sell their homes, and mistakes can make the sale process longer and possibly more difficult. If you think of selling, make sure you don’t fall victim to these common seller mistakes.

Not Working with Agent

Selling a home can be overwhelming, considering all the time that goes into marketing and the actual sale process. Unless you have unlimited free time and a broad understanding of your local real estate market, a big mistake when selling your home is trying to do it without an agent. A real estate agent has the knowledge, the experience, and the time needed to get your property sold. An agent will also do all they can to help you get your home sold. Selling a home can be emotional – an agent will help guide you through the entire process, especially if you know it’s going to be hard for you or your family.

Not Accounting for Costs

Buyers are not the only party in a home sale that need to expect spending money – sellers have some costs that come up once a home is on the market. Typical costs associated with selling can include agent commissions, closing costs, staging costs, repairs that come up from the inspection, seller concessions, and moving expenses (it’s important to note that not all property sales will include these costs). Some sellers may have two properties with two monthly payments while waiting for their current home to sell. For sellers, listing your home can come with some unanticipated upfront costs; an additional benefit of working with an agent is that they will be able to go over and help you understand the additional costs of selling your property before it

goes on the market.

Not Disclosing Key issues

Every seller would like to get the best price for his/her property, and it can be enticing to hide major repairs from potential buyers to get the most significant return on your home. Many buyers will schedule a home inspection after their offer is accepted, and should an inspector find any significant damage to the home, and the deal could fall through. It’s best to be upfront about the house’s state as this can help find buyers who are open to properties that need work and weed out those that don’t want a project. It can also help with negotiations if both parties are privy to all pertinent information about the property.

Curbing Showings

Traditionally, in-person home showings were the way to go for potential buyers to view your house. While things have slightly changed due to the Coronavirus, showings are still incredibly important. Buyers always want to view homes in-person, and while virtual showings and virtual open houses have become popular throughout North America, many people still want to physically visit a property before they make an offer on it. Limiting access to your property decreases your chances of a quick sale. Accommodating buyers, especially those that are motivated, is still vital to selling real estate. If you can accommodate potential buyers, do so (but abide by any local regulations about the Coronavirus).

Not preparing

The essential part of selling a home is the preparations. Buyers react better to homes that are decluttered, well-lit, staged, and have nice listing photos than those that do not. Usually, buyers begin their home search online, and listing photos need to make a great first impression. Lighting plays an integral part in selling a home, especially in pictures and during showings – a well-lit home is inviting and enticing. Some sellers hire staging companies if they put their home on the market, but you don’t have to. But you should be aware of ways to clean your rooms and arrange your current furniture to best showcase your house. Taking the time to prep your property could mean an offer in a matter of days versus weeks or months.

When it comes to real estate, every party involved has something to expect. Selling a home is not easy, and a fair amount of work goes into getting a home on the market. Do not make the mistakes others have – plan and be ready to go as it will only make the process easier for you.