These Mistakes Will Cost You Money When Selling a House
Homeowners have spent years after the housing market crash waiting for the value of their home to come back up so they would no longer be underwater. These low values made it impossible for many homeowners to sell when they wanted. However, many are starting to find that the values have risen enough that they have the option of selling a house.
If this is you there are some selling mistakes that you will want to avoid in order to get as much money as you can when selling a house.
Choosing the Wrong Listing Price
Underpricing your home can leave money on the table, but overpricing your home can leave your house sitting on the market. Pricing above market value to leave room for the buyer to negotiate the price down can backfire when you don’t receive any offers.
Not Making Repairs
It might cost you money to make repairs before you sell your house, but it can cost you a lot more to not make the repairs. Buyers will lower their offer by the amount they believe they will need to spend on making the repairs. This amount is often much higher than the actual cost of the repair, so it pays to do the work before you list.
Not De-Cluttering
Clutter will cost you. A cluttered house looks messy, dirty and smaller than it actually is.
If you want to entice the buyer into falling in love with your house you need to ditch your stuff. Donate or throw away what you can and then pack up all the personal items that you don’t need in order to help you sell your house.
Leaving the House Empty
Staged homes help buyers to see the potential in each room. Empty houses are harder for buyers to become emotionally attached to and fall in love with. Use a professional stager to decorate your rooms in a way that will help buyers to see all that your house has to offer.
Being Controlled by Emotions
Buyers are not emotionally connected to your house in the same way that you are. Your fond family memories do not make your house worth more money. Do not be offended if you receive offers that you think are lower than what they should be. Keep your emotions in check.
Neglecting the Disclosures
When you complete the seller’s disclosures you are protecting yourself from potential liability for problems that the house has. It might seem counterintuitive to tell the buyer everything that is wrong with your house, but it is your responsibility to do so.
Using Poor Listing Photographs
Your listing photos are one of the best tools you have to entice buyers to schedule a showing. Make sure the photos are taken when your house is cleaned and staged and that they use the best lighting and angles to highlight your house.
If you have finally reached a point that you are able to sell, you don’t want to miss your chance. Time your sale right to benefit from spring and summer when there are the most amount of buyers checking out the market. Take every advantage you can to bump your house above the competition.