If you’re in the market to sell your home, congratulations! Now is a great time to sell, and with a few simple steps, you can prepare for your home’s quick sale and closing. But don’t rush through the process too quickly. We’re sharing 10 mistakes we commonly see from home sellers – and have tips on how to avoid each.
1. Selling your home solo
Not hiring a real estate agent to represent you may seem like an easy way to avoid paying commission, but you’ll miss out on a real estate agent’s market knowledge, contacts, and help with the process. Unless you have a real estate license or background in the industry, we recommend you work with a real estate agent to not only save you time but also save you headaches (and oftentimes money, too!).
Working with a real estate agent is the key to a successful and less-stressful home sale. If you’re unsure of where to start, ask around from friends and family or do a search online for reputable real estate agents in your area. Trust should be a big deciding factor in who you choose to work with.
2. Waiting for the ‘home selling season’
While spring and fall are often referred to as the best times to sell a home, that doesn’t mean you need to wait until then to get things on the market. Especially with the current real estate market and trends we’ve seen in the past few years, there really isn’t an ideal time to go to market with your home’s sale.
We see many home sellers with offers on their homes before they even get listed publicly. Don’t let the ideal of a perfect time keep you from listing your home. And if you choose to work with a real estate agent, they can help you get everything listed in a timely manner, too.
3. Pricing your home too high
We understand that you want to get top-dollar for your home, but listing it above its value or too high for your market can be a big mistake. If you price your home too high, you may need to reduce the price down the line and sitting with a home on the market that doesn’t sell is a bad scenario.
In today’s market, pricing lower than you hope to sell for can actually be a great strategy. Not only does this drum up interest for your property, it gets seen by different types of buyers and can allow for multiple offers, ultimately driving up the price.
4. Keeping clutter and belongs in the space
Have you ever toured a home for sale? The listings are usually clean, staged, and get represented in their best-light. When you show or list a home that’s cluttered and full of your items, it makes it hard for potential buyers to see their own belongings in the space.
When in doubt, work with your real estate agent or a local home stager to ensure your space looks as it should for photos, showings, and more. Less is more when it comes to items in your home.
5. Being unavailable or not communicating
If you choose to work with a real estate agent, this communication with prospective buyers gets put on their plate. But for those selling without an agent or those who want to sell their home fast, understand that you must be available. This means answering emails or texts from interested buyers, taking phone calls to negotiate terms, communicating promptly with your real estate agent about offers, and more.
We recommend taking every offer seriously and recognizing that time is money in the world of real estate. A late response to a potential buyer may end in a canceled offer.
Get Your Home On The Market Today!
Are you ready to get moving with your home’s sale? The Matt Weaver Team is here to help with all of your real estate needs. Contact our team today to learn more about our services and to tell us about your needs.