There was a great article in the Washington Post today, “What not to do when selling your home.” The article provides a list of avoidable mistakes sellers too often accrue when selling their home. I found the advice within the article; accurate, educational and sadly all too familiar. So for anyone thinking of selling a home let’s review some of these avoidable mistakes here on my blog.
DO NOT let Ego or Emotion affect the sale. It is difficult for the average home seller to not feel emotional about a home they have loved and are now parting with. Hey, I completely understand, I really do. However, this is precisely the reason to have a professional Realtor like myself handle the feedback from prospects and buyer offers. Not only will we save you the stress of tough negotiations, by advocating for your best interest, we do so with a professional manner as well as provide you with sound analysis on your options.
DO NOT overlook extra fees at closing. This should go without saying, but you’d be surprised by the number of sellers who skip the details. That said, you never want to have a surprise dampen your sale. You can always sit down with your escrow company and lender and ask for an explanation of each fee, line by line. I highly recommend it.
DO Stage your home. Every successful realtor I know agrees with this. Statistically, your home will sell twice as fast and for a higher selling price when it is staged. It may sound like a hassle or an extra expense, but honestly, staging your home can be a big factor in the amount of Return on Investment.
DO NOT post bad photos of your home online. Much like the last mistake, not posting accurate or flattering pictures of your home is really an unforced error. Hire a professional Realtor that will hire a trusted photographer to take the photos of your home. You only get one chance to make a first impression.
DO NOT try to sell your home yourself. You may feel you are saving money by not paying commission. However, how would you feel if the buyer later sued you for something that you did not know to protect yourself from. This is just one of the most expensive examples I can give. A great Realtor can help you cover all your bases.
DO NOT over price your home. Ask yourself honestly if you have a perception of a home that sits on the market for an extended period of time. You likely do.
DO make necessary repairs. Spending a little bit of time and effort preparing your home for sale, will leave less for a buyer to negotiate the price down with.
DO disclose any defects you are aware of. If you are not sure what to share with the buyer when selling, ask your Realtor. My advice is when in doubt, always disclose.
Have questions or comments? Let me know, I’m happy to answer them. You can also reach me @TracyBryantRealtor on FB
