When it's time to sell your home, chances are
1. you want things to go smoothly and
2. you want things to move along quickly.
The listing process is one of the first steps in selling your home and it's also one of the most important. Missteps can result in selling for less than your home is worth or a significantly longer time period to get your home sold. Avoid these mistakes to drastically increase your chances of a smooth, quick sale at the best possible price.
Incorrect Pricing.
Probably the worst mistake you can make is pricing your home incorrectly. If you price it too high, potential buyers will skip your home and move on to the next one that is more reasonably priced and within their budget...and they may not return even if you start lowering the price. There's also a psychological factor involved. When potential buyers see a home that is overpriced compared to the market, they start to assume the owner is unreasonable. Additionally, the longer the property sits on the market, the more likely buyers are to think something is wrong with it. And to make matters worse, once they start seeing you lower the price, that misconception is even more likely to take hold. On the other side, pricing your home too low means you could lose out on potential profits.
Instead of finding yourself stuck in this pricing quagmire, take the time to carefully evaluate your home and other homes in the area that are currently for sale or have recently sold. Don't count on online estimates of your home, instead, consult with a professional real estate agent who has experience in marketing and selling homes in your area. Allow the agent to do a thorough assessment of your home including the condition of your home, improvements, location, current demand, and market movement. Encourage them to be completely honest with you about all these factors in order to understand their pricing recommendations. A knowledgeable real estate agent will price your home in order to bring in potential buyers while still leaving room for negotiations.
Not making repairs or fixing up the home.
Depending on the condition of your home, you'll likely need to put in some effort into it if you want to make a sale quickly. If your home is in need of repairs unless you are selling your home "as-is" and at a steep discount, you'll definitely need to take preliminary steps.
If your home is in good shape, you will typically only need to address some deep cleaning and de-cluttering. Start with these obvious steps before you schedule your listing photos and be prepared to maintain your house in this way to accommodate showings and open houses. take photos of your home for the listing and schedule an open house. If a potential buyer sees a cluttered home, they may assume you haven't been paying attention to other things around the home that may need attention.
If your home is in need of repairs, take care of those issues and updates before listing the home. Just like with dirt and clutter, if potential buyers notice basic repairs that are lacking, they will assume you have not bothered with other things. Fix broken appliances, tighten dripping faucets, add a coat of paint, and even replace the roof, if necessary. Many potential sellers even hire a home inspector ahead of time to get in front of any repairs that may come up during the process and delay a sale/closing.
Using bad photos.
In the current age of online home shopping, your photos are going to be one of the most important marketing tools. Hiring a professional property photographer will typically pay for itself in terms of a higher sales price. There is more to taking photos for your home listing than just pointing your phone's camera and shooting. Professionals understand staging, lighting, and composition. You will want photos that show your home in the best light possible and make your rooms appear bright and spacious.
Without well done, high resolution photos, buyers are more likely to scroll right past your home and never even check out the details.
Not hiring the right real estate agent...or not hiring any real estate agent.
Although it's sometimes tempting, it's risky to try listing and selling your home alone. Without an agent, not only will you miss out on the best strategies for negotiating the sale, but you will also have to spend a great deal of money advertising your home yourself, and a great deal of time answering phone calls and showing the home. Keep in mind that most agents have access to the MLS system...a direct pipeline to agents across the country who may already have a potential buyer looking for a home like yours. Additionally, a knowledgeable agent already knows what mistakes to avoid when listing or selling a home, giving you one less thing to worry about.
And remember, just hiring an agent isn't enough; you need to choose a good one. Select a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent with good reviews and a reputation for closing sales.
