Four Selling Sins...

1. Incorrect Pricing

Make no mistake, UNDER-pricing your home can be just as detrimental as OVER-pricing your home.  Listen to your agent’s advice regarding price.  Their suggestions are not arbitrary.  They use comps and current market trends to figure out what the best selling price for your listing is.  It’s important that your listing price aligns with the appraisal at closing time.  If it doesn’t, it could mean the sale!

2. Neglect

We all have a list of repairs we have been meaning to get to for ages.  At our house, we have two.  The “Long List” and the “Short List”.  Short List repairs are things that can spell doom if not taken care of immediately (i.e. a leaky roof).  Long List are repairs which are OK to push back without much consequence. (i.e. replacing a cracked light switch plate).  If you plan on selling soon, get EVERYTHING marked off all of your lists.

photo:  Elite Staging and Redesign

3. Staging

Staging doesn’t have to mean renting all new furniture and décor.  There are several small things you can do to showcase your home’s natural beauty.  First and foremost - clean and de-clutter.  Walk thru your home, room to room, and try to look at it like you are seeing it for the first time.  (If this is too challenging, then have a friend come over and offer their HONEST impression and suggestions.)  Is there a natural flow to every space in your home?  Do your kitchen countertops look large and gleaming?  Or do you just see the coffee pot, toaster-oven, charging station, mixer…..  I’m sure you get the idea.  Is your home filled with personal photos?  Consider switching them out for generic, tasteful décor that pulls your room together.  Do you simply have too much furniture?  A great way to improve traffic flow and make your home look larger is to remove a few pieces of furniture.  Maybe you could store them in a family member’s basement or garage temporarily?

4. Dishonesty

Tell your agent EVERYTHING up front.  Your agent WANTS to sell your home.  It’s their JOB to sell your home.  They simply cannot do their job if you are with-holding information from them.  Tell them everything and let THEM decide what is pertinent and what is not.  Being dishonest or with-holding information from your agent could lead to a big loss in the end.

Do you have any home selling tips or sins to add?  We'd love to know!