Want to avoid home selling mistakes?
DON’T GET CAUGHT MAKING COMMON ERRORS
It’s almost a new year—time for fresh starts. If selling your home is on the list of things to do in 2018, there are common mistakes that you will want to avoid.
It’s no secret that selling a home can be challenging and stressful.
What if you could side step much of the headache? Avoid these home selling mistakes to increase your chance of having a smooth, quick, and gainful transaction.
Sell before ready
Selling a home can be exciting, but it can also be an exhausting mental and physical experience that goes on for months. It’s a good idea to make sure that you are truly ready to sell and move on. Making a list of pros and cons will help you weigh your options, and get you thinking from all sides.
Once you make the decision to sell, don’t rush your home to market. You might be ready to sell, but your home might not be. Getting your house ready for market goes beyond making the beds, putting things away, and washing dirty dishes. Your home might need some minor repairs or important upgrades.
If buyers see deferred maintenance, they are less likely to want your home. Prioritize the list of issues and start working your way through it. If you choose to skip necessary preparations, it can cost you money in the end.
Price too high—or low
When it comes to selling your home, pricing is the most important decision you will make. It will have the largest impact on your sales outcome, and overpricing is the biggest mistake sellers make.
Overpricing your home leads to more time on the market. This can negatively affect your final sale price and deter buyers. Whether you’re in a hurry to sell or not, time is crucial. The longer a property sits on the market, the less urgency buyers have. It also increases their leverage and makes it less likely that your home will attract multiple offers.
An experienced Realtor—like me—will be familiar with the current market, your neighbourhood, and the price that similar homes are selling for. Working with an agent will help you see your home through unbiased eyes and help you price your home to sell.
Hide issues + past history
Honesty never fails. When selling your home don’t keep its past a secret. Disclose water leaks and electrical issues. A home inspector will locate all issues and hiding things can affect the sale, as well as the safety of future homeowners.
Getting a pre-sale home inspection shows that you have nothing to hide. It will also help you address any repairs that should be made before attempting to sell your home.
Let emotions rule
When it comes to the successful sale of your home, there isn’t room for sentimental value. Although it may be difficult, personal emotions should not affect any factor of the sale—especially price negotiations. When you made the decision to sell, your home became a commodity and should be treated as such.
Be present at showings
It is never a good idea to linger during showings or open houses. When the seller is present, it creates an awkward situation for potential buyers and makes it impossible for buyers to imagine themselves living there.
To allow buyers the time, freedom, and comfort to view your home, make yourself scarce. Be sure to take your children and pets with you!
Sell by owner
Working with an experienced real estate professional can make all the difference in your home selling experience. A good agent will provide support, advice, and resources to help you avoid common errors.
From preparation and pricing to marketing and showing your property, an experienced agent will take care of it all and alleviate much of your stress. Once a buyer makes an offer, real estate transactions can get complicated—especially if there is more than one offer and conditions to consider. A seasoned professional with negotiation skills will be invaluable.
Fail to market
A home that doesn’t get marketed won’t sell. Having an innovative marketing strategy is essential when it comes to exposing your home to a large pool of buyers.
A professional agent will help you prepare your home, set up photos, and use a variety of platforms to market your home to sell.
Provide bad photos
If the photos you use online are dark, blurry, and don’t showcase important rooms, don’t be surprised by minimal interest. Most home buyers begin their search online, and will bypass a listing with poor images—even if the home meets their criteria.
Show off the best angles of your home with good quality images. If you can afford a professional photographer (or enlist a friend of family member with photography skills) do it! Photographs are a vital part of a successful marketing campaign.
Half-measure home staging
If you’ve made the decision to stage your home to sell, do it right! Not every room needs to look like a magazine ad, but there should be continuity throughout your home.
If you don’t have the budget to stage every room, consider staging the entire main floor. Just be sure to declutter and depersonalize every room in the house, and to keep it neat, tidy, and clean throughout the selling process.
I have the experience to position your home in the current market and sell it successfully. Using a combination of traditional real estate services and modern, innovative marketing, I will help you get the best value for your home.
I serve clients in the Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Campbell River real estate markets. I’m also a Brookfield Relocation Specialist authorized to help members of the military and RCMP transferring from the Comox Valley.
When you’re ready sell, contact me directly at 250.792.2776 or tvincentrealty@gmail.com
With me, you are never just another listing!
