The 10 Deadly Sins for Sellers
Tips for Home Sellers
Top 10 Sins of Selling
1. Neglecting necessary repairs prior to sale
You will lose money if you don’t take care of repairs before the house goes on the market. Not all “to-does” should be done so talk over the list with your Agent. If its major, get a bid so buyers know what it will take.
2. Refusing to remove your clutter and junk prior to the sale
Clutter eats equity and kills deals. It’s hard for most buyers to see past the “Visual static”.
3. Selling your house empty
Selling an empty house makes buyers feel the same way—empty. Be sure you “dress” your house to sale not just for sale. There’s a difference. Talk to your agent about options for staging.
4. Mis-pricing your home
Over-pricing is the #1 reason sellers lose money on a sale. Your Agent will guide & explain “the right price.” It’s not about your gut feeling and needs. Buyers don’t care how much $ you need or how much you put into the house. They only care about which house is the best value for them.
5. Not setting the stage to Sell
You must create a showplace for your buyers on sale day. Buyers purchase with their hearts and not their heads. Every showing is “Sale Day”, don’t mess one up. That could have been “The One”, it only takes 1.
6. Letting your ego get in the way when negotiating
Too many sellers take negotiating personally and lose out on creating a win-win deal.
7. Neglecting to complete a full set of disclosures prior to listing
I’ve watched too many home sellers pay out big bucks because they didn’t “reveal it all.” Ask your
Agent to be sure you’re telling all you need to tell.
8. The sale for maximum tax benefits
Even one day mistimed can cost you tens of thousands in extra taxes. Don’t be left a day late and many dollars short. Learn your taxes and timing issues from your agent, the local market expert.
9. Overlooking reasonable Buyer requests
Sellers throw thousands away by not being open to things like paying the buyers closing costs. For many buyers, this is a required element to make their purchase of your home possible. Make sure you ask your agent which items to pay and which you should not. Just be open to some, if you don’t other sellers are.
Face it, you can’t afford to lose money either through your neglect, indifference, or ignorance of the selling process. So make sure you sit down with your agent to address these issues and pave the way for the smoothest, quickest sale possible.
10. Not hiring a professional to sell your house
Trying to sell your home by yourself is sheer madness. You need the expertise of a professional. They help with things you have never heard of nor dealt with before. Home sellers who do it themselves often end up selling for far less. “Doing it to themselves”, asking for trouble.
