Avoid These Top Home Selling Mistakes!

We continue our blog from last week about how you can avoid difficult and costly hurdles to selling your home in a tough economy. Remember, home sellers often set unrealistic expectations that can delay the process.   The following list contains the second part in the two-part series of common mistakes to avoid.

6. Thinking you need to be in the home to explain things to a prospective buyer

Being present during a showing may actually harm your chances of selling your home because the prospective buyers and their agent can often feel uncomfortable talking or exploring the house freely while you’re present. 

7. Not being objective about your home

You have to be open and honest with yourself if you want to sell your home.  This means listening to your REALTOR® when he or she offers suggestions on improvements for selling your home quickly.  You may have sold houses before, but today is a different market and your REALTOR® has their “pulse” on it. 

8. Putting the home on the market before it's ready

Don’t overlook the value of hiring a stager. Staging your home before placing it on the market is the packaging which will help you sell.  Also, be sure to remove clutter and begin to pack as much as possible so the house not only looks clean and tidy, but it will also show as spacious as possible.  Once it is on the market, be extra careful if you are still living in the home to keep it neat, clean and tidy in the event of possible showings.

9. Not comparing your home to others in the area / market

A good REALTOR® will pull data (comps) of other homes that are currently on the market (your competition) and recent homes that sold in your area.  These homes will be of comparable age, size and condition. This will help you set realistic expectations on price and save you a considerable amount of time in lowering the price. Remember, it is best to list your home correctly from the beginning and not after it has been sitting on the market. 

10. Getting Emotionally Involved

You have to be prepared to sell your house.  Your home will always have more value to you, than to others. Perhaps it’s the home you grew up in or the home where you raised your children. Whatever the case may be, you cannot let these factors hold you back from selling when you receive a reasonable offer. Remember, your REALTOR® can help you determine the value of your home, without becoming emotionally involved.

We want to hear from you! What other factors should be considered when selling your home?