While surfing the web, I came across some articles in Aol and Yahoo about mistakes home sellers make. I agree with what they said so I thought I would discuss them.
1. Asking Too Much-if you price your home too high, you risk turning away potential buyers (especially in a slow market). Your home is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it. When real estate times were better, it was easier to get comparable prices going back 6 months. Because market prices have gone down, now you must compare prices for similar properties currently on the market.
2. Questioning the First Offer-Sometimes the first offer might be the best offer. You can’t assume you will get a better offer the longer you hold out. It’s actually the opposite-the longer your home sits on the market, the greater chance a seller will have to reduce his/her price.
3. Failing to Respond to All Offers-If you get an offer that is too low, do not reject it. See if you can negotiate. It’s a buyer’s market right now so they have the upper hand. If you really need to sell your house, it will cost you more money in the long run if it sits on the market for a long time.
4. Paying for a Home Stager-You want your property to stand out but I don’t think it’s necessary to pay someone to stage your home. Not everyone can picture how a home will look after they have added their own touch to it, so if possible, keep the walls clean and bright, get rid of the the clutter and knick-knacks and make all necessary repairs, even the smallest of problems, before buyers enter your home. A clean, neat, bright home gives off a much better vibe than a dark messy home.
5. Picking the Wrong Buyer-After the recent national mortgage disaster, it’s especially important to choose the right buyer. Choose someone with a prequalification letter issued no more than 4 to 6 weeks ago. Also watch out for a buyer who needs a contingency (stating the deal won’t close until they sell their own home). The best buyers are first time home buyers who qualify for a mortgage in advance or someone who has already sold their existing home.
I hope these tips have helped you. Hopefully you will have a smooth transaction when it comes to selling your home.
Staci Green-Transaction Manager for Masha Halpern & The Smart Move Team www.TheSmartMoveTeam.com