Selling a house is an exciting time. It’s not generally the thought of selling your home that will get you excited, it’s the possibilities that await you after. It may take you a step closer to your dream home, allow you to start retirement, or even be the funds you need to travel the globe.
Of course, it’s frustrating when your home is on the market and not selling. The good news is that this is generally because you have made one of the most common home selling mistakes. Knowing what they are will allow you to resolve the issue.
- Limiting Your Options
Many people head to their real estate agent and put their house on the market. This is a tried and tested method. But, if you rely on the real estate agent you are not opening your home up to all the possibilities available.
You need to consider listing the property yourself, the internet gives you access to millions of potential buyers and it can all be handled from the comfort of your home.
Of course, that’s not the only option. You should also contact your local real estate auctioneer. You may not have considered selling your house at auction but you can set the minimum price you will accept and could, potentially, get more than this.
Equally, if the minimum price isn’t reached you simply explore other options for selling your home.
- Setting the Price too High
It’s easy to overprice your home. In fact, you’ll find many real estate agents overprice your home simply to give themselves some negotiation room.
That’s why you should consult several real estate agents before you decide on a price and also look at the prices of property in your area. This will help you to decide on what is a fair price and increase the likelihood of a quick sale.
- Accepting The Highest Offer
When you get more than one offer it is tempting to simply accept the highest offer. After all, that gives you the most money possible to start the next stage of your life.
However, you also need to consider whether the potential buyers have the necessary finance in place and what other issues they face. In many cases, someone offering a slightly lower price can complete faster and is a more reliable option.
- Not Repairing Things before Selling
If you know of particular issues with your property then you have a duty to disclose them or repair them. While disclosing may be the easier option, repairing things will help your house to sell as it appears a more attractive option.
In short, you should know the issues with your home, repair the ones you can, and advise potential buyers of the others, having already adjusted the price accordingly.
- Failing To Prep Your Home
Finally, if you are selling then you need to prepare your home. That means removing excess clutter, including furniture. You should also give walls a coat of white or pastel paint. This creates the impression of a house that is well looked after and needs minimal work. At the same time, people will be able to imagine themselves living there, making it easier for them to make an offer.