“Pitfalls” to Avoid when Selling your Home

Top 10 Sins of Selling

1.  Not hiring a professional Realtor to sell your house.  Trying to sell your home by yourself is sheer madness; you need the expertise of a professional.  Home sellers who do it themselves often end up selling for far less.

2.  Neglecting necessary repairs.  If you don’t address needed repair prior to selling your home, this very likely will result in a lower sales price.

3.  Refusing to remove your clutter prior to selling your home.  ”Clutter eats equity and kills deals.”

4.  Selling your house empty.  Selling an empty house makes buyers feel the same way- “empty”.  If you must remove all your furnishings make sure you “stage” your home properly with the guidance of your professional agent.

5.  Incorrect pricing of your home.  Over pricing or under pricing your house is a huge money-losing mistake.  Be sure to ask your agent to guide and explain “the right price.”

6.  Not setting the stage for sale.  You must create a showplace for prospective buyers.  Buyers most often purchase with their hearts and not their heads.

7.  Letting your ego get in the way when negotiating.  Too many sellers take negotiating personally and lose out on creating a win-win deal.

8.  Neglecting to complete a full set of disclosures prior to closing.  Ask your agent to be sure you are telling all you need to tell.  Filling out your sellers disclosure completely and correctly will save you in the future.

9.  The sale for maximum tax benefits.  Learn about taxes and timing issues from your agent, the local market expert.

10.  Overlooking extra expenses at closing.  Make sure you ask your agent to do an estimated net sheet before you sign a contract so you know approximately what to expect at closing.