While it’s great to see when things go well. Some home owners end up having a much more stressful experience when selling their home.
Here are a few mistakes people make when selling their home:
Over pricing your property
Simply put, over price your home and it won’t sell. In this market buyers are very astute, they do their homework and develop a good idea of what something is worth. Sit down with your agent and compare your home to similar homes that have sold in the area. If feedback from the market after a few weeks says the price is too high, this needs to be adjusted promptly. Its expensive advertising property for sale and spending money promoting overpriced houses can be a total waste of money.
Hiring the wrong real estate agent
The right agent will attract the right buyers and give you the best advice. It’s pretty simple. An agent from a low profile agency will attract few buyers and you may lose out on negotiations and pricing advice with an inexperienced one. So, shop around. Test the local profile of your agencies by noticing for sale signs in the area. Visit their websites and review the agent profiles for experience and recent sales. Choose someone professional, someone with experience and someone you feel you can trust.
Making viewing times too restrictive
While open houses are a useful and recommended tactic, not everyone can be available at that particular time on Sunday. Refusing additional inspections can turn away large sections of the market. If selling your home is the goal, ensure you make time for serious buyers even at short notice. In the current market, if a buyer is delayed in viewing your property, they may well see something else in the meantime.
Poorly presenting your home
A poorly presented home can be a huge turn-off to buyers. Too much clutter or obvious imperfections negatively affect the atmosphere of the home. This may lead buyers to think that the home may require more extensive work. I’ve found people often tend to overestimate the actual costs of this work.
Being present during viewings
Buyers need space and time to imagine living in your home. You, your kids and pets can stop them from doing this and can make them uncomfortable and rushed. Where possible go out for coffee or take the dog for a walk. Allow the buyers to imagine your old house as their new one.
Not considering every offer
Offers below your ideal price might seem offensive to some, but remember: buyers are always trying to get the best deal. You may even do the same when looking to buy. Turning away serious buyers simply because they’re trying to negotiate could mean turning away the right buyer, be very conscience of this when selling your home. Try and take the emotion out of it and provide a counter offer. We have closed some colossal gaps before so it’s nearly always worth making that counter offer.
Poor Marketing
Buyers need to be able to find your property easily and get more information where required. Buyers need the impression that it is a quality offering and that this impression is met when they view the property. This includes professional photos and well worded text. Ask your real estate agent to ensure the home is easily located on the major real estate websites, that all advertising appears professional, and that exaggeration is avoided at all costs. We’ve all seen ads which over promise and under deliver.
