If you’re putting your home up for sale, avoid these common seller mistakes:
1. Overpricing. If you truly think your agent’s price is too low, get a second or third opinion, but an agent that lets you list at the price you want even though every other agent suggested a lower price will end up costing you money in the long run because a home that is overpriced will sit on the market and often become stale. On the other hand, a home that is priced right will generate a lot of interest and attention initially, and may even generate a higher price due to multiple offers.
2. Bad Quality Photos. Most home buyers start their search online and many are using mobile apps these days, so make sure that you list photos with your home and make sure those photos are high quality.
3. Not Prepping Enough. Prepping your home for sale should start before your listing becomes active. Declutter, clean and make repairs before you even list your home, so that it sparkles in the photos on your listing as well as in person. Waiting until you have a showing or an open house scheduled is shooting yourself in the foot!
4. Hiring A Friend Instead of An Agent. Don’t trust just anybody to sell your home or choose the person that offers you the highest list price or lowest commission price. You need to find someone who has an active plan for finding qualified buyers, is committed to negotiating on your behalf, and has a plan of attack for the crucial first two weeks that your home is on the market.
5. Not Considering All Offers. Normally homes get a lot of attention in the first few weeks they are listed. By holding out for a better offer or second guessing yourself you can hurt you in the end if you end up rejecting early offers and your home sits on the market and begins being rejected sight unseen by buyers who are leery of stale listings. Remember this, every month that your home stays on the market costs you in mortgage and utility bills, so settling on a price that is a little bit lower than you’d like may save you money in the long run.
Thinking about buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.