Four Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House

1. Pricing too High
Homebuyers are concerned with their bottom line, not yours; if you price your house higher than the neighborhood average in an attempt to cover your expenses, you will scare off buyers who are looking out for their own finances. Keep your asking price in line with comparable homes for sale in your neighborhood.

2. Accumulating Clutter
Clutter accumulates in a home over time; because the change is gradual, homeowners rarely notice. But homebuyers will see it all and be so distracted by the clutter that they pay no attention to the house itself. Before viewings, clear all the clutter out of your home. When you think your home is clutter-free, take a digital picture of each room. Clutter might be invisible to the naked eye, but it always shows itself in pictures. Keep clearing items out of your home until the pictures look magazine-worthy.

3. Restricting Viewing Hours
Buyers can't buy what they can't see. If you refuse to let your agent show your home on evenings and weekends, you could be missing a sale. By only allowing viewings when you’re away at work, you’re not accommodating homebuyers who work the same hours as you. Be flexible with your viewing hours; let your agent show your home to potential buyers weekdays, weeknights and weekends.

4. Getting Emotionally Involved
Most sellers have an emotional attachment to their homes. Emotions, however, rarely mix well with business transactions. If a buyer offers you $30,000 below your asking price, it can feel like he is insulting you and your house. But buyers don't have the same attachment to your home; they are simply looking for a deal. Before turning down an offer you deem insulting, consider countering it. If you and the homebuyer are both willing to compromise, you can come to an agreement you both find acceptable.

Many factors can sabotage a sale, from a struggling economy to a cluttered home. You can't fix the economy, but you can change your own behaviors to increase your chances of success. If you keep calm in the negotiating process, set reasonable viewing hours, stay organized and tidy, and match your competition's asking price, you could see a sold sign in your front yard.