The 7 Deadliest Mistakes Sellers Make

There’s no two ways about it- selling a home is stressful. And sellers often make the process even more stressful for themselves by making deadly mistakes.

The stress of a big life change gets even the best of us, so it’s no wonder why a lot of home sellers get trapped in avoidable pitfalls without the right guidance from an experience real estate agent.

Make sure you don’t fall into these common pitfalls. Here are the 7 deadliest mistakes you can make when selling your home:

1. Buyers cannot use their imagination. Don’t assume they can.

2. Correct problems before the property hits market instead of planning to offer an allowance at closing for the buyer to fix it themselves. Not addressing problems can cause buyers to look for trouble elsewhere in the home.

3. Staging is not just for trophy properties. Basic staging can be completed at minimal cost. Expenses associated with staging is in many cases considered by the IRS as a cost of doing business and count as deductions against proceeds. 

4. Don’t do the minimum preparation just to see how the market will react to the property. The first 7-14 days are critical. After 30 days on the market, buyers start to worry about problems with the listing and move on. Put your best foot forward from day one.

5. Overestimating the value of repairs and renovations completed years ago will become problematic.

6. Buyers want to envision themselves in your home. You should remove any non-essential personal items from the property.

7. Don’t give up. Sellers have many reasons for selling, but buyers only have one- to have a happy future. Unprepared properties invite low-ball offers. Avoid it at all costs.