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;font face="Times New Roman" size="2">16 Mistakes Sellers May Make When Listing Their Home and How to Avoid Them
1 Pricing your home too high.
A Real Estate Agent (Agent) can research comparable sales in your area and advise you of the appropriate price range of your property.
A Real Estate Agent (Agent) can research comparable sales in your area and advise you of the appropriate price range of your property.
2 Taking an Inflexible Position on Financing
Have your Agent explain what financing options are available. Being flexible on financing terms may secure a better selling price, with other advantages as well.
Have your Agent explain what financing options are available. Being flexible on financing terms may secure a better selling price, with other advantages as well.
3 Errors in Market Timing
Ask you Agent to determine whether the market cycle is poised to net you the most money
Ask you Agent to determine whether the market cycle is poised to net you the most money
4 Not Providing Easy Access for Showings
There are many ways to show a home. “Appointment Only” is the most restrictive. Lock boxes (key safes) are the most accessible. If you home is easy for agents to show, more prospective buyers will see it, improving your odds of getting the deal you want; however, your specific lifestyle many not be compatible with frequent showings. Your Agent will help you determine a solution that will best fit your situation.
There are many ways to show a home. “Appointment Only” is the most restrictive. Lock boxes (key safes) are the most accessible. If you home is easy for agents to show, more prospective buyers will see it, improving your odds of getting the deal you want; however, your specific lifestyle many not be compatible with frequent showings. Your Agent will help you determine a solution that will best fit your situation.
5 Not Utilizing Current Marketing Technology
Make sure your Agent is up with the latest technology, such as internet sites that cater to home buyers. Check around to see what technology is being utilized in your specific area. In some areas cable–access advertising is popular. Others use 800 number interactive voice response systems. A good agent will know where you can get the best exposure.
Make sure your Agent is up with the latest technology, such as internet sites that cater to home buyers. Check around to see what technology is being utilized in your specific area. In some areas cable–access advertising is popular. Others use 800 number interactive voice response systems. A good agent will know where you can get the best exposure.
6 Not “Staging” your Property Correctly.
Put some items in storage, create more light, play music or otherwise improve the ambience. Your Agent can offer helpful advice to create the right first impression.
Put some items in storage, create more light, play music or otherwise improve the ambience. Your Agent can offer helpful advice to create the right first impression.
7 Believing that Selling Property is Seasonal.
Don’t base selling decisions on the seasons. Property sells year around.
Don’t base selling decisions on the seasons. Property sells year around.
8 Pricing your Property too Low.
One reason to hire an Agent is to make sure that no money is left on the table.
One reason to hire an Agent is to make sure that no money is left on the table.
9 No Re-evaluating the Market Plan
Re-evaluate your Agent’s marketing plan every 10 days. You and your Agent may need to make intuitive changes based on the current market and buyers.
Re-evaluate your Agent’s marketing plan every 10 days. You and your Agent may need to make intuitive changes based on the current market and buyers.
10 Believing Your Agent is Not Doing the Job When There Aren’t Any Offers.
Most sellers are unaware that 80% of all buyer activity comes from the sign and MLS. Any Agent can provide that. So, if you don’t have a problem showing the home, but it hasn’t generated any interested buyers, it may be time to re-evaluate the price.
Most sellers are unaware that 80% of all buyer activity comes from the sign and MLS. Any Agent can provide that. So, if you don’t have a problem showing the home, but it hasn’t generated any interested buyers, it may be time to re-evaluate the price.
11 Ignoring the Importance of First Impressions
Sales have been blown by unkempt lawns, cluttered closets, unpainted front doors, hard-to-work locks, blown light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas and bad smells. Spend time on the little things. Double up on your gardening, keep things cleaner than usual. Take serious control of you pets during this period.
Sales have been blown by unkempt lawns, cluttered closets, unpainted front doors, hard-to-work locks, blown light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas and bad smells. Spend time on the little things. Double up on your gardening, keep things cleaner than usual. Take serious control of you pets during this period.
12 Not Making the Right Kind of Repairs
Don’t be tempted to make improvements prior to listing without consulting your Agent. Some upgrades will not yield any real increase in value, while others may increase property value substantially.
Don’t be tempted to make improvements prior to listing without consulting your Agent. Some upgrades will not yield any real increase in value, while others may increase property value substantially.
13 Not Giving the Sales Effort Enough Time.
You should never give too little time to what is inherently a long process. Homes may take 3-6 months to sell, in any market. Estimate how much time you have before you need to sell and then plan ahead to allow for extra time. You don’t want to be forced to accept a disappointing offer.
You should never give too little time to what is inherently a long process. Homes may take 3-6 months to sell, in any market. Estimate how much time you have before you need to sell and then plan ahead to allow for extra time. You don’t want to be forced to accept a disappointing offer.
14 Not Screening Prospects Adequately.
One of the best reasons for hiring an Agent is his or her ability to pre-qualify a prospect financially before valuable negotiation time is lost. More importantly, your Agent may discover when a prospect has an ulterior motive for shopping homes other than purchasing.
One of the best reasons for hiring an Agent is his or her ability to pre-qualify a prospect financially before valuable negotiation time is lost. More importantly, your Agent may discover when a prospect has an ulterior motive for shopping homes other than purchasing.
15 Believing that You Can’t Make a Difference.
The top agents in the industry report that sellers themselves are responsible for at least on out of ten sales! You can network your business and personal friends, you can hand out flyers at your place of business and elsewhere, and you can keep the house in “move in condition”. Your Agent should be ready to hand you all sorts of assignments to make the “team effort” successful.
The top agents in the industry report that sellers themselves are responsible for at least on out of ten sales! You can network your business and personal friends, you can hand out flyers at your place of business and elsewhere, and you can keep the house in “move in condition”. Your Agent should be ready to hand you all sorts of assignments to make the “team effort” successful.
16 Testing the Market
Never put your property on the market, unless you really want a sale! Get ready for a professional sales push when you list with a great agent. If your plan harbors some indecision, resolve it before you list, because success is every great Real Estate Agent’s objective!
Never put your property on the market, unless you really want a sale! Get ready for a professional sales push when you list with a great agent. If your plan harbors some indecision, resolve it before you list, because success is every great Real Estate Agent’s objective!
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