Making errors is part and parcel of the home selling experience. That said, you can still take extra steps to ensure a smooth transaction. One of the best things you can do is to acquaint yourself with the seven most common mistakes to avoid when selling your home.
NEGLECTING REPAIRS
Some sellers scrimp on selling costs by neglecting home repairs. This ultimately backfires on them as selling a house in poor condition will turn buyers away and, in turn, decrease their chances of making a profit from the sale.
What to do: You don’t need to do a complete overhaul of your property. You can focus your attention and allot a budget to cover the most essential repairs and upgrades. Address issues where possible because most buyers want a move-in ready home.
FAILING TO STAGE YOUR HOME
Staging your home is just as important as having it repaired. It’s a key visual aspect of the home selling process that highlights the strengths of your property. More importantly, staging helps buyers visualize two things: living in the house and how certain spaces or rooms can be utilized.
What to do: Hire a professional stager to bring out the best parts of your property. But if that’s not possible, decluttering, deep-cleaning, and re-arranging furniture to ensure smooth traffic throughout the home can do wonders for the sale.
DISREGARDING YOUR HOME’S CURB APPEAL
Your property’s curb appeal can be powerful: it can attract or turn away potential buyers. Overgrown plants and shrubs, debris-ridden pathways, a cluttered entryway, and a dirty roof all create an impression that a property isn’t well cared for, resulting in a longer time on the market and possible price reductions.
What to do: There are many ways you can do to make your house look presentable, such as trimming plants, clearing debris, and repainting your front door a welcoming color. When a house looks good, it will attract buyers on its own.
NOT HAVING A SOLID PRICING STRATEGY
Pricing is crucial. If you underprice, you risk losing thousands of dollars in potential profit. If you price the house too high, it could deter serious buyers from making offers. It would take longer for you to sell the property and might even force you to make price reductions.
What to do: Ask your real estate agent for a comparative market analysis (CMA). It compares your property to similar houses (comps) in the market. You can use the findings to set a price that’s competitive, fair, and realistic.
SELLING THE HOUSE ON YOUR OWN
Some people choose the For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) route thinking that it will help them save on costs by not having to pay agent commissions. What they don’t anticipate is the workload and the risks, including selling a home for less.
What to do: It’s simple- work with a real estate agent. They remove the guesswork from the process and make sure your property is fairly priced and ready for sale.They can tap into their network to help you find highly enthusiastic buyers. And finally, your Realtor will help you avoid all the common mistakes associated with selling a home.
LET’S SELL YOUR HOME IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA
Call me, Robyn Robinson, at 949.295.5676 or send me an email to have a stress-free home sale. You can also use this first-time sellers guide to get a better grasp of the home-selling process.