SELLERS: Mistakes to Avoid that Can Delay Your Sale !
Mistake #1: Not taking the time to enhance your home’s
showing.
When potential buyers drive past your
home, their first impression will be based on what they see on the
outside. If the buyer is disappointed,
they probably won’t want to take the time to go inside, no matter how nice the
inside may look. Many sales are already
closed before the buyer walks inside, based solely on the outside appeal of the
house. There are many things you can’t
change, such as location or lot size, but you can enhance the appearance of
your home with a few minor alterations and some serious cleaning. Ask your REALTOR what can be done to make
your home more attractive. A good agent
will know what buyers look for.
Mistake #2: Insisting that your home is shown only when
it is convenient for you.
While no one wants their dinner
disturbed by strangers trooping through the house, often the only time buyers
can see your home is after work hours or on weekends. Plan ahead.
Keep the house orderly and make time away from home. If possible, plan events to take weary
children away from home showings. Sure,
a last minute showing might be a minor inconvenience, but it also may be the
last buyer who sees your house before deciding to buy it.
Mistake #3: Attempting to hide problems
with your home.
Be honest with your REALTOR and your potential buyers with regards to the property relating to health, safety, or environment. It’s common today for inspections to be a part of the sales contract, and during the inspections most problems will be discovered anyway, but hiding the truth can kill a sale and land you in court. It’s much better to factor the costs of repairs into the sale rather than face lawsuits after the fact.
Mistake #4: Inadequate marketing methods.
In most cases, you will have to
advertise your home. Marketing today
requires much more than a “for sale” sign on the lawn. Prospective buyers with their busy schedules
don’t have the time to simply look through the classified ads. Your home should be marketed 24/7 hours a day
with an information hotline and virtual home tour on the Internet. Ask your REALTOR what strategies are in place
so that you can be sure your property is generating potential leads 24/7.
Mistake #5: Failing to look at your home from the buyer’s
perspective.
Sellers tend to become too
comfortable with the clutter that surrounds their home. Buyers may tolerate such mess in their own
homes, but the homes they are looking at to buy must be spotless. A repair, no matter how small, is something the
buyer will look at as an added expense and inconvenience when purchasing the
home, and can thus use it to negotiate a lower price.
Mistake #6: Offering explanations about your home during
showings.
Potential buyers usually feel more
comfortable when the homeowners are not present. If you do remain home, resist the urge to
offer explanations, point out perceived flaws or offer to repair items that the
buyer might not have noticed or question your REALTOR about. People differ in preferences. The less said, the better.
Mistake #7: Not understanding how to price your home
properly.
Determining the market value of your
home is one of the most challenging aspects of the entire selling process. If the list price is too high, you’ll limit
showings and offers. Some home sellers
believe they have to price the property high so that they can accept a lower
offer or have room to negotiate.
Potential buyers who may have otherwise liked the home don’t bother to
come by because of the high asking price.
It’s important to know and understand how the current market works. A buyer is more likely to make a full price
offer on a home that is priced right before making a low offer on a home that
is priced too high. A top-producing
agent will know how to advise you to price your property correctly to generate
the most profit.
Mistake #8: Not planning your move before your home
sells.
Many sellers don’t plan their move
early enough, then they feel totally overwhelmed when it comes time to vacate
the property. Have your move organized
before a contract is ever signed. Don’t
wait until the last minute to get an estimate from a moving company. When you do things last minute, the price can
skyrocket and you don’t have the time to shop around. Be sure to keep a record of your expenses
during the move. Many of these expenses
can be tax deductible. Take an inventory
of everything you own so that you know the proper things arrive at your new home.
Mistake #9: Being inflexible or unwilling to compromise.
Sometimes it is necessary to be
flexible when it comes to the sale of your home. If you’re not willing to budge about the date
you move out, price, necessary repairs, etc, the buyers can become discouraged
or even angry. Agreeing to a repair that
might cost a couple of hundred dollars might actually save you much more on
interest on your home loan in the long run.
While you don’t have to give away hard-earned equity, often sellers must
look at the overall savings involved.
Again, ask your real estate agent for advice. Choose your listing agent
wisely. Working with a full-time
professional real estate agent is a must.
Choose your agent by asking questions of him/her. Find out how knowledgeable they are about
houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses that have
recently sold
Choosing
your Agent wisely. Any agent will show
enthusiasm and will want to list your house for sale but choose your agent
based upon
- Experience at listing
and marketing houses for sale.
- Ability to use
technology to market your house world wide to buyers 24/7.
- Reviewing with you a
comprehensive Marketing Analysis of home sales in your area.
- Ability to offer a
written detailed 30-DAY
MARKETING PLAN that will get your
house sold at the highest possible price.
Working
with a full-time professional real estate agent is a must. Choose your agent by asking questions of him
or her. Find out how knowledgeable they
are about houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses that
have recently sold. Can
your agent recommend a good lender that has the reputation of excellent customer service and low rates to assist your
new buyer with financing? A good listing
agent can get your house sold quickly at TOP DOLLAR and help you find a
new home.
Thank you for requesting a copy of
this “FREE REPORT”
For prompt, courteous, professional
service, call Jan Wilson:
Office: 1-714-903-7750
Direct: 1-714-719-0048
Visit my
web site at: www.gardenparkrealty.com
Have questions, need advice you can
count on or just want to discuss this further?
Don’t waste any more time; pick up
the phone and call me now! I’m here to
help!
P.S. I appreciate your business, your loyalty, trust and your referrals. It is my goal to provide the very best counsel, advice and service possible for your real estate needs. If I may ever be of assistance to you, a relative, friend or co-worker please don’t hesitate to call me. I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.™
-
My Home Tracker
- Save your favorite homes
- Get new property alerts
- Share with friends and family
-
Home Values
Find and compare local neighborhood home values