Getting your home ready to put on the market? Creating a plan and avoiding common seller mistakes could be what sets you apart from the competition. Here are 4 common mistakes sellers make.
Overpricing
The most common mistakes sellers make is pricing their home higher than the current market value. If homes like yours in your area are selling for $100,000-200,000 you have to set your price within that range too. This mistake is such an easy one to make, particularly if you’ve become emotionally attached to your home. But if you want to sell your home, you have to be competitive.
Lazy selling
The saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” is true of selling your home! Make your house welcoming and price it correctly on the first try. Leaving your home as-is, sticking a “for sale” sign in the yard, and expecting to get the amount you want for it is unreasonable. So paint the walls with neutral colors and fix the broken mailbox. Do the things you’ve always wanted to do to make your home better. It’s not a waste of time and will only add to the value of your home.
Holding back
If you truly want to sell your home, you have to be prepared to make some sacrifices. Make it convenient for interested buyers to look at the house. Allow them to come as early as 7 or 8 a.m. and as late as 5 or 6 p.m. This ensures that, regardless of what their work schedule is, they have an opportunity to view your home.
Also, try not to limit viewings to weekdays. Be open to having visitors on the weekends as well. As overwhelming as that may sound, being more available can make you stand out against other sellers and sell your house more quickly.
Underestimating clutter
It’s difficult to know how your own home is coming across to prospective buyers, but try to look at it with a fresh pair of eyes. Surfaces and floors should be clear, clutter removed from the fridge and walls, and anything personal tucked away in a drawer or a bin out-of-sight. No one should be able to tell who lives in your home, what they do for a living, etc. Your home doesn’t have to be bare, but it should look clean and organized. The easier it is for visitors to imagine themselves living there, the better!
