10 mistakes to avoid when you sell your house

Selling your house can be a rewarding venture, but certain missteps along the way can cost you in a big way. Watch out for these 10 common home selling mistakes that can delay or derail your home sale:

Not having your property inspected before listing

Getting your home inspected early allows you to identify existing as well as potential issues that can lower the value of your property. Instead of waiting for the buyer’s inspection to expose these problems (leading to inconvenient delays), take the initiative to address the problems so you can justify a better asking price.

Underestimating the importance of staging and photography

When you list your home, your goal is not only to catch the attention of buyers, but to fully capture their imagination, as well. Carefully planned staging and professional-quality photos make your property stand out from other listings.

Focusing all the work on the interiors

Deep cleaning and home staging do not stop with your interior living spaces. Curb appeal is just as important. Wow your buyers even before they set foot in your home, and you will set the right mood for a productive home tour.

Prioritizing big, expensive renovations over practical and essential repairs

If you think that adding a new room to your home will lead to bigger profits, think again. Expensive and unnecessary renovation projects are harder to recoup than simple, practical fixes around the house. Simply make sure that there are no leaky faucets, flickering lights, or creaky door hinges, and you can make your home feel good as new.

Offering limited viewing schedules

If you are opening your doors to interested buyers for home tours, accommodate their schedules as much as possible. Consider that not all serious buyers may be available at your preferred times. Some might only be free to visit in the evening after leaving work, for example. Give them the benefit of the doubt, even if it can be a slight inconvenience for you. Your patience and flexibility may be rewarded with the offer that you are waiting for.

Expecting to receive your asking price

Always remember that your asking price is just the starting point for negotiations with the buyer. Be patient and open to any changes during this process, especially if you have a skilled and experienced agent handling the negotiations on your behalf.

Ignoring lower offers

While it is normal to get excited about big-money offers, give a fair amount of attention to lower offers, as well. If you get a low-ball offer, respond with a fair counter-offer. If they are seriously interested in your home, they might reconsider and send back a new offer that is closer to your target.

Allowing emotions to influence your decision-making

Having a strong attachment to your home for several years is normal. But when it comes to making important decisions during the home selling process, facts and figures should always have the final say.

Overpricing

Setting an unrealistic asking price is one of the biggest mistakes that a home seller can make. Pricing your listing well above its reasonable market value will turn away serious buyers, leaving your home on the market for an extended period. In the end you will have to drop your price significantly and take a loss, rather than profit from your sale.

Doing everything all by yourself

Selling a house is a complex and time-consuming process. While exciting, it can easily overwhelm you when all the meticulous steps, procedures, and paperwork begin to pile up. To enjoy a rewarding home selling experience, hire a real estate agent who understands your local housing market, as well as the type of property you own.

Get the upper hand when selling your home in Wenatchee, Leavenworth, or Cashmere by working experienced and trusted local professionals. Call Coldwell Banker Cascade Real Estate at 5509.888.8887 or email info(at)cbcascade(dotted)com to learn more.