Steer Clear of These Common Home Selling Blunders for Optimal Results

Sharing five common mistakes that sellers need to avoid when selling.

Are you thinking about selling your home? If so, there are a few mistakes you need to avoid. Unfortunately, there are a few big mistakes that I see sellers make frequently, so I’m here to help you sidestep that. Here are the five most common mistakes that sellers make: 

1. Overpricing the house. A lot of sellers think they need to leave room for negotiation. However, that will truly cost you a lot of money in the end. 

2. Not doing repairs. When a buyer is walking through the home, if they see something that is broken, they are going to assume that more things are broken. There may be issues you can live with, but if there is a visible problem in your house, you must fix it. This will help your buyer feel confident they’re buying a great house. 

3. Not realizing that the sale isn’t done until closing. Once you’re under contract, your job as the seller isn’t done. Almost 20% of contracts are falling through in our area today, which means that buyers are backing out at some point in the process. Sellers don’t have control over every reason that a buyer would back out, but there are things you can do along the way to help your chances of success. 

4. Not neutralizing the house. The buyer needs to be able to imagine themselves in your property, so make all of your walls a neutral color. It is baffling how many buyers don’t make an offer on a house because of the paint color, but it’s true—too many people can’t see past the paint. Therefore, keep things neutral and not specific to your taste. 

5. Selling a house that looks lived in. There’s a difference between a staged house and a decorated one—and you want your house to be staged. There needs to be enough room for your buyers to imagine their things in the house. Your house should feel a little empty. Therefore, consult with a staging professional. 

"Help the buyer feel confident that they're buying a great house."