Common Mistakes People Make when Selling a Home

Selling a home isn’t an exact science, but people often make similar mistakes when they decide to sell their homes. Whether it’s difficulty removing their emotional attachment from the equation, or skimping on some pre-sale expenses, these mistakes can be extremely costly.

Before you decide to sell your home, take a deep breath and remember to avoid these home seller mistakes.

Not Getting a Home Inspection

The first thing you should do when you decide to sell your home is have an inspection performed. A pre-listing inspection can help you address any repairs and issues with the home, and give you a good idea of how to price your home when you put it on the market. It can save you time, aggravation, and quite a bit of money.

Neglecting Home Preparations

You may be tempted to simply put your home on the market and see how it does without making any pre-listing preparations, but this is a costly mistake. Addressing any cosmetic concerns like worn carpeting, outdated appliances, and broken fixtures should be taken care of before you decide to list your home. A thorough professional cleaning should also be addressed as well. Making these preparations before listing your home can make the difference between a fast sale, and languishing on the market for months.

Ignoring Curb Appeal

First impressions matter, especially in real estate. Your curb appeal is the first glimpse potential buyers will get of your home, and you want it to be positive. An unkempt lawn, cracked or faded paint, and worn siding and shingles can put-off buyers before they’ve even stepped through the front door.

Overpricing Your Home

This is easily the most common seller mistake, and the one that hurts their sale the most. Listing your home well above market value will deter most buyers, leaving your home to languish on the market. When this happens, sellers often panic and drop the price, but by then the damage may already be done.

Letting an Emotional Investment Sour the Sale

One valuable piece of advice for sellers is to remain as emotionally detached from the sale as possible. You’ve spent years turning your house into a home for you and your family, and it can be difficult to let that go. Hearing that a buyer would make changes to the home can be painful, but that emotional attachment can cost you greatly.

Choosing the Wrong Realtor

Choosing a realtor is a big decision, and choosing the wrong one can be a huge mistake. You want a realtor who is available for you, and has a strong knowledge of the local market. As the #1 realtor in Encinitas, I can help you avoid these mistakes, as well as countless other pitfalls along the way.

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