Selling your home can be a stressful process, especially if it’s your first time. Unfortunately, there’s also a lot that can go wrong during the home-selling process that could result in your home sitting and accumulating days on the market. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, we’ve compiled a list of the top common home-selling mistakes you can avoid so that your home will sell, and quickly!

1. PRICING YOUR HOME INCORRECTLY

The price you set for your home plays a major role in whether you are successful! When pricing any home, we develop a custom strategy by looking at the market as a whole and ensuring the price is set high enough that you are not leaving money on the table, but also being careful that we aren't overpriced which can lead to your home sitting on the market and selling for less in the long run. Research shows your first two weeks of being listed is where you see the most activity, so being priced correctly during that time is vital to your success. 

If you’re wondering what your home is currently worth, try our free home estimator tool and find out your home's value instantly. And if you’ve been thinking of selling, you will want to capitalize on the current market – many homes are selling quickly and for top dollar, meaning if you price your home competitively then you’re set to receive a great offer! 

2. NOT PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE

Buyers now more than ever want a move-in ready home, and are willing to pay for it! Repairs and other items that need work can be a turn-off for some buyers, so taking care of as many things as you can before you hit the market sets you up for the likelihood of receiving top dollar for your home! It's been proven that homes that are clean, uncluttered and well-decorated sell faster than homes that are not.

Some key items to consider:

• Complete any major repairs that need to be done

• Consider painting if needed - keep colors neutral so they appeal to the most amount of buyers 

• Declutter and remove personal items (you want prospective buyers to be able to view themselves in your home, not necessarily envision how your family has been living in it)

• Deep clean carpets

• Make sure your home is clean and smells fresh

Here’s a quick checklist that’ll help you get your home ready for selling!

3. NOT TAKING PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE PHOTOS

Cell phone photos just won't do it these days! With everyone constantly online and on their phone, a home's first showing is on the internet. So it makes sense that your first impression should be your best impression! This means having professional photos that show your home in the best light possible. A real estate photographer has all the right equipment needed to take well-lit shots and they are an expert at the angles they need to capture in order to make rooms appear larger and more appealing. If you have a home with land or a great view, aerial photos can also show off the amazing features your home has to offer. You only have one chance to capture a buyer's attention, and having great photos is a huge part of that!

4. ACCEPTING AN OFFER ON THE PRICE ALONE

Accepting an offer is not as straightforward as you might think! There are multiple variables to look at and price is just one of the many considerations when deciding which offer is best for your home. You also need to consider the contingencies such as what inspections are required and who pays for them, which financing type is being used (or if it’s all cash), what size downpayment is being placed, the closing timeline, closing costs, and think about potential repair requests or concessions a buyer might ask for later on. The right real estate agent will help you pick the offer that is the most secure and best aligns with your goals! 

5.  BEING UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE 

Our goal is always to get our clients everything they want, however, much like with everything in life there is always a give and take! Just remember that selling your home is a process and not an event and there will be multiple parts to it so try to keep an open mind and be realistic with potential price, inspection, and appraisal negotiations. 

6. CHOOSING THE WRONG REAL ESTATE AGENT

Real Estate does not adhere to a 9-5 schedule, it’s a 24/7 job! Realtors need to be available when everyone else needs us, including other agents, appraisers, home inspectors, lenders, and our clients! If you choose a realtor who doesn’t respond to your messages at night or has an office that’s closed on weekends this means that they will likely not be available to you (or other agents and potential buyers for your home) when you need them most which can drastically affect the selling your home. We provide flexible hours, working around your schedule, and provide full weeknight and weekend availability! No matter the day or time, we will be available to you, working diligently to provide a seamless experience for you so we get your home sold, and quickly! Email us if you'd like to learn more about our services and what we do that gets our clients such great success.