Three Mistakes Sellers Make That Get In The Way Of Selling Their Home

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With the housing market as it is these days, when sellers put a home on the market to sell, they should definitely do everything they can to get that home sold!  There are three common mistakes made by many sellers that if avoided, can make the difference in a successful sale or not one at all. 

The Home Is Not In Saleable Condition

If there are major issues with the house that has not been tended to and cared for, the chance of selling the home will obviously be slimmer.  This goes for things like siding, exterior doors, windows, furnace and other systemic functions.  Aside from functionality and curb appeal, buyers also notice cosmetic things such as worn carpet or worse, stained and dirty flooring, scuff marks on the walls or dents from moving if it’s a vacant home.  Uncleanliness, foul odors from either smoking or pets and general disarray are also problems that get in the way of buyers being able to see the house for what it really is. 

Make an effort to spruce up the exterior.  If possible, invest in some light landscaping unless you already have a decent exterior.  Do make sure everything is neat, clean, carpets freshly painted or carpets steam cleaned.  Have a cleaning person do a once over on the home, even if it is vacant – so that the fixtures, floors and windows are appealing. 

There Are Too Many Location Obstacles

People seeking a home usually have something in mind, particularly in terms of location.  Not location “where in the city?” – but location “what’s nearby?”  If the property is backed up to a main road, it is usually not as desirable.  If there is a commercial area very close nearby, lending to a noisy street all day and night long, buyers will usually turn away.

Factors that do make your location workable and even desirable include being in a good school district, in a neighborhood where housing values have historically tended to be higher than other neighborhoods or even the existence of a nearby park or recreation area.  If these things are not present the best way to compensate is to focus on, feature and highlight other high selling points of your house.  And if the location ends up being a deal-breaker, then compensate the buyer with price or other concessions.

The Selling Price Is Unrealistic

The single biggest hindrance to a home selling, let alone selling successfully – is its price.  If your home is the highest priced home in a neighborhood of many “for sale” signs, then buyers will naturally gravitate to other homes on the same street.  If your price is set according to the amount you paid rather than the current value, then in a market like the current challenged one, you will suffer lackluster interest from buyers.

The best way to manage pricing of your home is to connect with your Realtor, who will be well versed in appropriately pricing properties.  Not all Realtors are created equal, so do your homework and select one with a good track record of home sales and with a good amount of experience.  Your agent will likely conduct a detailed comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine exactly what homes that are similar to yours are priced and recently sold for in your vicinity.  It is very important to set a realistic price and unfortunately the price that is set based on the current market is not what you may have expected based on what you might have paid for your property.
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Aside from these three factors, homes also don’t sell if the seller is not flexible or willing to go with the flow.  Try to be reasonable in your expectations and hire a Realtor you can trust so you can be comfortable taking his or her advice to help you achieve successful selling results!