What are the common mistakes home sellers make when they decide to sell? It is said that experience is the best teacher. But why get into so much hassle when you can learn from the mistakes of others? You want to sell your home fast and to do it with confidence. Here are six common mistakes you should avoid:
1. Selling your home on your own
First of the six common mistakes of home sellers is attempting to sell your home by yourself without the help of a real estate professional – it’s downright madness. You need help from a licensed professional. Real estate experts are beneficial and convenient when it comes to selling your home. They will give you expert advice and will tell you what to do and not to do to make it work. Even when you do your research, the statistics and numbers do not lie – more homes are sold with the help of a real estate broker than for people who try to sell their homes by themselves.
2. Overpricing
Second of the six common mistakes of home sellers is setting the price too high. The most common factor of homes not selling is overpricing. For some owners it is their emotional attachment to the home that gives them the sense of value but, for others, they just need the money. This need, of course, is understandable. However, what if it is not the right price to be displayed? That will just extend the time it will take to get a buyer to make an offer. Defining the market value of your home is a skill practiced by real estate brokers for years. This means with whom you work matters.
3. Hiring the wrong real estate agent
Third of the six common mistakes of home sellers is hiring the wrong person for the job. It’s like hiring a nanny for your child. You should look at their resumes, how they work, the testimonials of former clients, and the market reports in your area. This is the part where you’ll know how your broker works – he or she should reveal his strategies on how he will market your home in full confidence of selling your home.
4. Forgetting that marketing your home is a continuous process.
Home sellers often pause or stop the marketing efforts when they receive an offer. Before, during, and after your home is sold, your property should be an example of success both on the seller’s side and the broker’s side. In Washington, it is not allowed to market your home as “Coming Soon’’ to spark the curiosity of buyers who are interested in that area. But once it is listed as an ‘active’ listing, meaning it is now open for offers and buyers, it should be continuously and actively marketed in any way possible until the seller gets the desired offer for the property. Right after the home is sold it should be marketed as “Just Sold’’ in every marketing platform your broker has. This represents good practice on the part of your broker and proves you made the right decision in the broker you retained to sell your home.
5. Selling an empty home.
Never sell your home empty. Who wants to see an empty box? Beautiful on the outside and nothing on the inside. Try to showcase your home along with what comes with it. In most cases, a home should be ‘staged’ by a professional and, most especially, if it is vacant. This gives buyers a picture in their minds of a life in that home. Make sure to always tidy up, too. No one wants to see a messy home.
6. Not being proactive with the buyers during showings.
Lastly, when someone is viewing your home, make sure your broker points out all the great features by guiding them every step of the way. Make sure potential buyers don’t just walk around unattended. This is an important factor that is often ignored. Your broker needs to connect and build rapport with any prospect to convert their interest into a reasonable offer. Being warm and welcoming gives the buyer a personal touch when touring the home.
Bottom line: the person with whom you work in the real estate industry matters the most. You cannot do it alone. Trust a professional and not just any professional – but one with experience and a good reputation in the local area.
The real estate professional with whom you work matters.