The Biggest Mistakes Home Sellers Can Make

1. Failing to prepare a home for sale
example: selling a home "as is" in a competitive housing market
buyers tend to offer more for a home that is clean, neat and without obvious major repairs to be made

2. Not using a REALTOR
15% of all homes sold are sold by the owner
owners may overprice or underprice their home without a REALTOR whose knowledge of the housing market would be able to correctly price the home
overpricing a home may lead to it sitting on the market as the most expensive home in the neighborhood; you will also turn away qualified prospects who might be potential buyers
underpricing a home means that the owner may sell it, but net far less from the sale than they would have with a REALTOR who would have priced it correctly
becoming the "seller" of your own home is a process many people find difficult; keeping the transaction on track until closing is not something many home sellers are prepared to do

3. Choosing the correct REALTOR
the right agent will meet the seller's needs, work with similar homes in the area, present a thorough marketing plan and analysis and offer well-thought out advice based on knowledge of the area and market in general

4. Hanging around the house during showings
buyers don't want to insult a seller, nor do they want the seller to think they're too interested
most buyers tend to feel more comfortable asking an unbiased sales agent questions freely without the owner's immediate presence

5. Flexibility is important
if you limit access to your home, you may be creating a showing schedule that doesn't meet the needs of potential buyers
it might mean additional housekeeping, but it will mean additional showings

6. Play the game
during the offer situation with a potential buyer, some sellers feel insulted by how low an offer may be, but every offer is worth responding to
the seller should send back a counter-offer which suggests they are willing to entertain a serious offer, but that the current offer isn't good enough
take into account financial incentives which can attract buyers without cutting too deeply into the seller's profits: home warranties, paying some of the points or a percentage of the closing costs (make sure to factor this into the asking price for the home)

7. Miscellaneous upkeep
buyers will be turned off by all of the following: pet odors, other odors, food left sitting out, signs of insects, overgrown shrubs, dirty windows and trim, unmade beds, obvious signs of water damage, lawns that haven't been mowed, toys left in the yard or on the front porch
keep in mind that prospective buyers are looking at the home as the place where they would live!