SELLING MISTAKES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

1. Overpricing. Buyers won't even look at a house that is more than 5% over the market value. Either they think they can't afford it or they see better value in other houses for sale. Buyers also look at comparables and have probably seen other homes before seeing yours'. Ask your agent to do a CMA (Comparitive Market Analysis) and pay attention to his or her advice.
2. Lack of Curb Appeal. The old expression about making a good first impression is very true when selling a home. It takes a lot to overcome poor curb appeal. Many buyers won't even go into the home if it doesn't appeal to them when they stop in front. So it doesn't help to have a great kitchen, new carpets, etc. if the buyer won't even go in to look at the home. Do some landscaping, clean up the yard, paint the exterior, put out some flowers, etc., whatever it takes to make it look appealing and inviting.
3. Selling a Home in "As-Is" condition. There are buyers for fixer-uppers, but they don't usually pay market value, and they are far fewer in number. A house ready to live-in will get top dollar. So do the needed maintenance and it'll help get you more money faster. An old carpet or old paint can turn off a potential buyer.
4. Dirty, Dull and Cluttered Homes. Your home needs to be in showcase condition. No fingerprints on door jams, clear off the counters, remove the excess from the closets and the garage. Avoid extreme colors and patterns. Go for the neutral rather than the bold. The look, feel and even the smell of a home can have great impact upon a potential buyer. Pay attention to them.
5. Over-Improved homes. Some home improvement projects will cost much more than you can recover from a sale. If the home improvement project will cause the home to be more expensive than other comparable homes in the neighborhood, it should be avoided.
6. Selling a Home Without a Broker. A good real estate agent will bring many more qualified buyers than you could obtain on your own. Yard signs are a small part of a total marketing effort. It is difficult to negotiate for yourself without becoming defensive. Also, selling a home is a complex transaction, best handled by professionals who do it frequently and are up to date on all the latest financing options and legal risks.
7. Being Home When the Property is Being Shown. Buyers will want to respect your family's privacy if you are present. They won't get a really good look at the home and may not concentrate enough to get a good impression. Socializing will be a distraction.
8. Being Inflexible. Don't rule out any forms of financing that your buyers may need to utilize. They might require more paperwork but also provide a faster sale. Don't let a small item like curtains or a lamp stand in the way of the larger transaction -selling your home.
9. Delaying. A ready and willing buyer will loose interest if their offer is not responded to in a reasonable period of time. Respond quickly and punctually in order to maintain their interest.
10. Lack of Exposure. Many sellers trying to do it themselves, never successfully get the word out about the home being for sale. If you use a realtor, make sure that, besides a yard sign and open house events, the home is placed in MLS and on the internet, both with lots of photos. Your home will never find the right buyer if the word doesn't get out.

Call us with your real estate questions. We will help you avoid these common mistakes and make the selling process as smooth as possible.