Dear Olivia,
I’m ready to sell my first home and move on to something larger to accommodate my growing family. Having never sold a home before, I’m just wondering, what are some home selling mistakes I should avoid doing as a seller?
Thanks!
READY TO SELL
Kudos to you for thinking this through a little bit before putting your home on the market! The first step is to be as informed as possible, and I hope the following tips help you get prepared to sell your home and sell it quickly.
While there are lots of things you should and shouldn’t do as a seller, I find that these mistakes are made more often than others. So, if you want to be in a prime position to get your home sold, avoid doing the following.
Home Selling Mistake #1: Leaving the House a Mess
Homes that are clean, tidy, and well-staged sell 88 percent faster than homes that aren’t staged. What’s more, they sell for 20 percent more money!
So, when sellers leave the home a mess (or don’t clean it in the first place), it presents an added challenge to their Realtor to get the home sold.
Often, homeowners hear the word “staging” and think that means they have to shell out thousands of dollars to have a professional come in and stage the home because that’s what tends to happen on real estate-related TV shows.
But truthfully, if you simply clean your home, declutter, organize, and keep it that way, your home will make a much better first impression with potential buyers.
If you aren’t sure what you need to do to prepare your home for sale, just ask your Realtor for a few tips about what you can do to improve its marketability.
Home Selling Mistake #2: Sticking Around for Showings
Another mistake that some homeowners make is staying around for open houses and home showings.
When sellers hang around for a showing, they become the third wheel. It’s an awkward situation because buyers will feel as though they’re intruding in the home when the seller appears in the living room during the tour.
Likewise, potential buyers are less likely to make honest comments and ask questions if the seller is present during the tour. As a result, it’s best to grab your things and head out the door whenever there’s a showing so your Realtor can do their thing!
Home Selling Mistakes #3: Rejecting Reasonable Offers
Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash
Sometimes when a homeowner quickly gets an offer on their property, they say, “We should’ve priced it higher,” and reject the offer to wait for a higher one.
But if you get an offer on your home quickly, that just means that the home is priced well. Granted, low-ball offers do occur, but rejecting even a low-ball offer is often not advised. There is always room for negotiation, and if a buyer offers well below your asking price, it’s worth a counteroffer just to keep the dialogue open.
What’s deemed “reasonable” is up to you and your Realtor and will be different from one property to the next. And while getting an offer that’s low can be a little offensive (we all love our homes, after all), it’s important to keep your emotions in check and start the negotiation process. You never know when that low offer could turn into something you’re more than willing to accept!
Good luck with listing your home for sale. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 307-856-3999!
~Olivia