Top 5 Seller Mistakes

Learn from experience – someone else’s! Avoid these classic slip-ups to net a sale in record time.

Here are the biggest mistakes and misunderstandings many agents confront regularly when working with sellers.

1. Overpricing: Sellers often think—or at least hope—that their house is worth more than the local market dictates. To attract the maximum number of potential buyers, set a price that is competitive with comparable houses on the market.

2. Poor Condition: Price and condition are married. If your house is in top condition, you can ask top price. When it isn’t, it’s time for sellers to stop neglecting their ‘honey-do’ list. Tip: Paint the walls with neutral, not bold, colors.

3. Weak Motivation: Sometimes homeowners say, “We just want  to put a ‘for sale’ sign out and see if we can get a high price.” Be careful here. People will be walking through your house week after week, but if it’s priced too high they won’t be making offers. In the end, sellers may wind up receiving less money than they should have.

4. Limiting Access: Selling a house can be a nuisance. You have to be willing to get your life out of the way. For best results, be prepared to show the house between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week, and make sure it is always clean and fresh.

5. Underestimating Marketing: As buying and selling environments continue to change, marketing your home in innovative ways is key. The Internet is the number one tool for attracting today’s homebuyers. Your agent should aggressively market your house online and know how to deal with online shoppers.