What Are the Dos and Don’ts of Selling Your Home?
Selling your home isn’t easy. Not only are you selling a piece of property that’s very personal to you, but you’re also looking to make money and get a good price for your home. But the process of selling a home is difficult, lengthy, and full of unexpected twists and turns – especially if you’re a first-time seller. If you’re preparing to sell your home, search online to discover how you can sell your home for the best possible price.
Whether you’re trying to sell your home on your own or working with a professional, it’s important to know what actions you need to take. And you should also keep common mistakes to avoid in mind. If you search online, you can find out more about selling your home at the right price.
Keep these dos and don’ts in mind as you prepare to put your home on the market.
Do Declutter and Spruce Up Your Home
First and foremost, it’s important to make sure your home looks good before you begin taking photos or welcoming potential buyers. You should declutter and spruce up around the house – both inside and out.
As you prepare to bring your home onto the market, work on decluttering the interior. Less is more when it comes to potential buyers. They don’t want to see a ton of furniture, a ton of personal belongings, or a whole bunch of random items littering every surface of your home. A home that’s overflowing with items can feel small and cramped, leaving buyers worried there isn’t much space. It also simply doesn’t look good.
Declutter absolutely everything, including visible areas like tables and countertop as well as not-so-visible areas like cupboards, drawers, and closets. Potential buyers will look around, and stashing clutter somewhere else is a big don’t.
You should also freshen up outdoors. When you sell your home, you want it to have great curb appeal, or a great first impression for buyers as they arrive. Focus on easy fixes, like planting flowers in your garden, mowing the lawn, and trimming any trees. You can also look at your home’s exterior, making spruced-up changes like repainting the front door or fixing any problem areas.
Don’t Set a Price That’s Too High
Everyone wants to make money off the sale of their home. Unfortunately, one of the most common mistakes sellers make is overpricing their home, or setting a price that’s way too high.
This can happen for a few reasons. Sellers are emotionally – and financially – attached to their homes. But it’s also easy to see other homes selling at higher prices and assume your home can net a high price too. According to a survey, 70 percent of real estate agents say that the number one mistake sellers make is overpricing their homes.
However, setting a fair asking price is critical to actually making a sale. Buyers will do a comparative market analysis, comparing your home and its sale price to others in order to assess whether it’s fair and a worthwhile investment.
Additionally, overpriced homes simply don’t sell. Buyer do their research, and you should too. Make sure you look at comparable homes in your area and their selling prices. Know how much your home is worth. A lower price than you might want can generate multiple offers. It’s also more realistic and more likely to attract buyers.
Do Fix Damage, Dings, and Unsightly Imperfections
Over many years of daily life, damage can happen throughout your home. But before you start welcoming potential buyers inside, it’s a good idea to fix anything that’s damaged and easy to spot.
Look for issues like scuff marks, chipped baseboards, and walls with marks. Scrub and touch up any potential dings, dents, or dirty areas. Windowsills, moulding, and other areas of your home probably need a deep cleaning. If you have any holes in the walls or damage present, you’ll want to patch those up.
Don’t forget about hardware, either. Doorknobs and handles, loose cabinet pulls, and other not-so-perfect pieces of hardware need attention before you sell your home. You don’t want buyers walking around your home during a showing only to discover multiple little problems along the way.
You can freshen your home up with a fresh coat of paint too. If you do repaint, opt for a neutral color so it’s easy for buyers to see as a blank canvas. A neutral background will help them envision themselves in your home.
Don’t Try to Hide Major Issues
If you come across bigger problems while you’re inspecting your home, it’s important that you face them. One of the worst mistakes you can make is trying to hide major problems.
If you know of leaky pipes, problems with the foundations, or other significant problems within your home, you need to deal with it. However, you do have three options – you can either fix the problem before you sell your home, lower your asking price, or offer the buyer a credit to fix the problem.
Any problems will be found during the inspection. After a buyer makes an offer and you accept it, an inspector will go through your home and look for issues. If you try to hide any problems, the inspector will be able to find them. And that can wind up delaying the sale. If the problem is significant enough, it could even cause the buyers to back out.
Do Work With a Real Estate Agent
Lastly, you should always work with a real estate agent when you’re trying to sell your home. Taking on the work of selling your own home can be overwhelming, especially if it’s something you’ve never done before.
Selling your home requires research, comparison analysis, scheduling and hosting showings, and working with buyers’ agents, escrow companies, and so much more. Why do all of this work on your own when you can hire a professional? A real estate agent who’s highly experienced in the process is a better choice.
Additionally, a real estate agent can help you get a fair price for your home and save you time. With professional expertise, a real estate agent can be highly valuable, even though you have to pay them a commission off the sale. It’s a small amount to pay for a smooth sale process.
Search online to find qualified, reputable real estate agents in your local area. You can compare different agents to find someone who’s the perfect match for you and your home.