7 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

You’ve finally decided to sell your house and move on to a new and exciting phase in your life. You may be looking to move because you’ve shifted jobs, want to be closer to your grandchildren, or a desire to have more space in your house for things like a home office or outdoor living area. Even while selling the house is the logical next step, it isn’t necessarily a breeze (albeit, emotional). Along with packing up all of the memories you’ve made here, you’ll likely want to get the house ready for showings as swiftly and painlessly as possible. While the speed at which you can sell your property will depend on factors such as the state of the market, the asking price, the location, and other factors, there are steps you can take to speed up the process. In fact, the time and number of viewings required to sell your home will be minimized if you give the potential buyers a good first impression from the get-go. Additional factors have emerged over the past several years that should be taken into account to guarantee that your home is up to date with the trends, practical in the current climate, and truly ready for sale. As we are moving past 2022, there have been some new trends in interior decoration and household priorities, having an effect on the housing market. 

If this is your first time selling a home, be prepared for it to take a significant amount of time and emotional energy. First-time home sellers often make a number of blunders due to a lack of expertise and the high stakes involved in the transaction. There are a number of things you shouldn’t do in addition to the many things you should do while preparing your property for sale. A mistake can have serious implications on your life, including your finances and, more significantly, your mental health. But if you know what to look out for, you can bypass most of these pitfalls. Find out what potential mistakes to avoid when selling a home for full market value and in a timely and efficient manner, without going crazy. Keep these in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to closing the deal in no time.

Not Hiring a Real Estate Agent

If you try to sell an apartment in Dhaka on your own, you might run into a number of problems. Finding potential buyers, for instance, will be an arduous process due to the city’s sheer size alone. After that comes price negotiation and mountains of documentation that no one person can hope to handle successfully on their own. Juggling work and personal activities are difficult enough for anyone living in the city. Managing time to look for buyers may seem like a significant hassle in the midst of all this. On top of that, it could be difficult to sell a home if you have no background working with real estate sales. Consultancy of expert real estate agents is a vital necessity in such instances. Buyer-seller interactions aren’t always easy, but that’s just the way it is. A real estate agent’s role in such a scenario is that of a negotiator, communicating the concerns of both sides without sparking any unnecessary tension. When it comes to making deals, agents know just how to sweeten the pot. In neighborhoods where there is substantial variation in property prices from one block to the next, this skill is important. 

Your real estate agent will be able to steer you away from common pitfalls for first-time home sellers, such as making expensive improvements that aren’t essential or coming out as overly desperate or overshared. Last but not least, real estate agents are well-versed in the necessary paperwork and potential issues of a real estate deal and may aid in ensuring a successful outcome. As a result, the transaction will go without difficulty and without any unanticipated legal complications. Any competent agent worth their salt will work tirelessly to protect their client’s interests. Your chances of a rapid sale will increase because of their assistance in setting a price that is both fair and competitive for your home. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can skip out on hiring a local real estate agent to handle everything by yourself. Follow this guideline to hire the best real estate agent in your locale. 

Mispricing Your Property

To expect top dollar when selling your property is natural; after all, you know better than anyone how worthy it is! However, if you advertise your home for too much money, no one will be interested in seeing it. If you set your asking price too high, you may drive away potential buyers and have to lower it before you receive any offers. Unfortunately, when your house has been on the market for a while, some buyers may be put off by it no matter how much you reduce the asking price. This is because buyers tend to think that if a property has been on the market for a long time, it must have major flaws. By setting prices too high, you send a negative statement to buyers. Customers nowadays are extremely well informed. In other words, you can’t trick a buyer. They can access your tax information and what you paid for the house is public knowledge. Too high of a price suggests either the unreasonable seller or a lot of debt.

Based on recently sold properties in the area that are comparable in size and amenities, you may get a rough guess of your home’s value. Using these ‘comps’ (shorthand for similar properties sold in the area), your real estate agent may recommend a selling price for your home. To better present your home to potential buyers, your real estate agents may conduct a property valuation. When selling a home, it’s important for the seller to strike a balance between asking too little and too much. Not finding the optimal selling price for your house can result in lost profits or extra time spent on the market.

Neglecting Necessary Repairs

Most buyers want to find a place that is ready to move into. A big repair that hasn’t been completed or a lengthy list of maintenance issues can put off potential buyers and lower your home’s selling price. Potential buyers have higher expectations that your home is in the same condition as stated in the listing. Examine the house with an open and critical eye. Look for things that appear to be broken or need replacing. Keep an eye out for anything that doesn’t work, is in bad shape, or poses a threat to the home’s safety, structure, or functionality. A potential buyer may be put off by the presence of any of these frequent repair issues.  However, before you spend a large sum of money upgrading your home, it is wise to speak with your real estate agent to ensure you are making the most of your investment. Costly renovations may not always be recovered at a higher sales price. In addition, some buyers like to do their own modifications to make the home more comfortable for them. If you want your renovations to actually increase the value of your property, you need to think them over carefully.

Before meeting with a real estate agent, many homeowners make the costly error of making extensive repairs and renovations to their property. Unfortunately, they invest money in areas that do not generate a high return, such as new mechanicals and roofing, while ignoring the need to update the backdated kitchen and bathroom amenities. A new pair of eyes will see items in your home that you may have overlooked for a long time. Get a real estate agent to inspect the house for you before potential buyers start knocking on your door. The appearance of these defects during a showing could scare off potential purchasers who fear that the house would be a major renovation nightmare. If you want an offer on your house, fixing the apparent issues is a must.

Failing to Disclose a Defect

If there are issues with the property that you cannot afford to fix before selling, you must disclose them honestly and openly, even if they are not immediately apparent. In the seller’s disclosure, sellers are usually required to list any recent repairs, problems, and updates. This lets buyers know about the condition of the house and any major flaws, such as the electric system, how well the air conditioners work, and any sewage or drainage problems on the property. Not doing this would waste both your time and the buyer’s if the home inspection notices problems eventually and the deal falls through. 

Put out all the facts and let the buyer decide what they think the house is worth. Think you can get away with hiding major issues with your home? Buyer’s inspections will reveal any issues there may be. You can either anticipate the problem and prepare to solve it, or you can price the property lower than the current market value to acknowledge the issue. It’s better for all parties involved if the buyer is aware of any issues before they read the inspection report. In the event that a leak or structural problem goes undetected during the inspection, but the buyer later establishes that you knew about it, you may be held liable in a lawsuit.

Not Staging Your Home Properly

As they say – Don’t forget the curb appeal. First impressions count, so give your home’s exterior some attention. Having potential buyers visit your home is a significant hurdle when selling a home. A home’s curb appeal increases when it is well-kept has few personal belongings and is well designed. Cluttered rooms make a house less appealing to potential buyers because it’s harder for them to visualize their own belongings there. The owner’s personal belongings can make even a large space seem cramped. Many sellers fail to fully realize the impact that properly arranging a home may have on its sale price. To sell a home, it’s important that potential buyers can immediately see themselves living there.

Preparing the home for sale is a process that should not be rushed. Make an effort to make the space feel warm and welcoming. Whether you decide to employ a professional home stager or do it yourself, remember that first impressions are crucial in determining whether or not a buyer will make an offer.

Not Considering the Costs Associated with Selling

You’ve finally found a buyer for the house you’ve been trying to sell for a while. As far as You can understand, there are no out-of-pocket costs involved. Huge blunder! Don’t be caught off guard by unexpected costs when you want to sell your house. Most homeowners, in their desire to gain the most possible higher pay from the sale of their property, fail to account for all of the expenditures linked to the sale. If you buy a new house before selling your old one, for instance, you may need to pay for two mortgages, as well as other moving costs like utilities, dues, taxes, and so on. On top of that, real estate agent commissions typically range from five to six percent of the home’s sale price. Total selling costs can reach 10% of the sale price when you factor in repairs, staging costs, house inspection costs, and closing costs. When added up, the amount can be intimidating if you aren’t ready for it.

Don’t worry, though! Your real estate agent should be aware of all of these potential costs and help you plan the sale of your house accordingly. It is important to figure out how much you will make after deducting any selling-related expenses. Having this information at your disposal before putting your home on the market will allow you to make an informed decision about the best approach to sell, as well as offer you a ballpark estimate of the funds you can invest toward your next property purchase.

Not Investing in Professional Photography

Since the widespread availability of smartphone cameras, everyone wants to imagine themselves as a potential photographer. But you may not be ready to take your own real estate photos just yet, despite the fact that the shot you took of your room last week looked like it fits in an ad. First impressions count when selling a house. Most home buyers today begin their search on the internet and end up taking virtual tours of potential properties. That’s why it’s important to invest in the services of a professional photographer. The quality of the photographs used can have a dramatic effect on the final sales price. If you hire a professional real estate photographer, they will use their knowledge of the best ways to showcase your home to potential buyers.

If you have a huge home, a beautiful view, or a lot of property, consider getting aerial shots. A good photo should be well-exposed, with a bright background and sharp focus, and taken during the day. They should highlight the best features of your house. More people will take notice of your home if you take the time to make it look nice, and any advantage you can offer it over similar properties on the market could be the deciding factor in a successful sale. Good photos help potential buyers envision themselves in a home, which increases the likelihood that they will make an offer. In contrast, unfavorable photos will simply discourage potential customers.

Summary

For a first-time seller, the process of selling a home may be both thrilling and overwhelming. Selling a property is never a walk in the park, but there are certain common traps to avoid to ensure a smooth transaction. While it’s understandable to be overwhelmed by the prospect of considering every possible negative outcome, keep in mind that information is power. If you know in advance what to look out for, you can save yourself time and money. Avoid these blunders and help your agent close the deal by working together. Avoiding the pitfalls described here will help you put your best foot forward and achieve the smooth, profitable selling of your house that every seller dreams of.

F.A.Q.

Do I need to stage my home before selling?

Ans. A home that has been staged typically sells more quickly and for a more fantastic price. However, a professional staging service may not be necessary for every situation. A home’s sale price can be greatly influenced by simple measures such as cleaning and decluttering.

What is property disclosure?

Ans. The property disclosure is a document prepared by the seller that lists all of the property’s issues, both from the past and the present. The seller must reveal this information since it is required by law.

Can a house with a home loan be sold?

Ans. An existing loan does not prevent a home sale. The lender holding your loan will provide you with a mortgage payoff statement detailing the final total due. At the closing of your loan, the home loan agent will transmit the remaining mortgage balance to your lender.

Do I need to hire an agent while selling my home? 

Ans. When selling your home, it is very important to engage with a real estate agent who is familiar with the paperwork and potential pitfalls involved. Their advice in establishing a competitive yet reasonable asking price for your house will boost your home’s marketability and speed of sale.

How much does it cost to sell your house?

Ans. There are several expenses to consider when selling a house, including those involved with hiring an agent, making necessary repairs and improvements, relocating, and closing. All of these things need to be factored in before you even consider selling your property. An expert agent will be able to help you estimate the full extent of these expenses.