Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

By following the advice outlined below, you will be better able to avoid the most common selling mistakes people make when trying to sell their homes. This should enable you to sell your home quicker and at the best price.

1. Not using a REALTOR®
   A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, a trade organization that promotes professional standards and ethics. Members must adhere to a strict code of ethics and agree to be monitored by their local Board of REALTORS®.
   
   
2. Not marketing your home
   The law of averages tells us the more people that see your home; the better the chances are of selling it faster. Make no mistake; marketing your home is essential. Effective marketing will help ensure your property receives maximum exposure to attract buyers who are ready, willing and able to buy your home. Your Realtor should be able to tell you how they will actively market your home. Take a look my proven and successful Five-Star Marketing Plan.
   
   
3. Not creating curb appeal
   Let’s face it, first impressions matter. If your home isn’t as attractive as it could be, people won’t go any further. Improve the appearance of your home by keeping it looking its best and add to its attractiveness with fresh paint and a clean, well-maintained lawn. For a detailed list of ways to create curb appeal, read my article on the subject. Read the Curb Appeal article now.
   
   
4. Failure to disclose
   North Carolina has a disclosure law, which means that a seller is legally required to disclose any defects known including health, safety and environmental issues.
   
   
5. Not knowing how to price your home
   Pricing your home right, the first time, is key. If you overprice it, you risk scaring off buyers. Even if you lower it later, people will wonder why it’s been on the market so long and avoid it. Get a current Cape Fear Coast House-Values Analysis TM today to find out what homes in your area have sold for recently and use this as a guide. And don’t rely on a refinancing appraisal; they are often inflated to encourage refinancing.
   
   
6. Not putting your house on the market soon enough
   Put your home on the market as soon as possible. You never know how long it’s going to take to sell and complete the closing process.
   
   
7. Failing to properly stage your home
   Make your home, both inside and out, as attractive and fresh looking as possible. Clean every room thoroughly. Stage your home by removing excess furniture in order to open up the area and make it appear more spacious. Remove personal items so potential buyers can envision their belongings fitting there. Store excess furniture and give away, throw away or sell what’s left. I specialize in home staging. Contact me today and I will help you maximize your homes value!
   
   
8. FSBO For-Sale-By-Owner-Should You Take the Risk?
   Before you attempt to sell your home yourself, be sure to read the article Sell Your Home Yourself-Can It Be Done? After reading this article you will earn a new respect and gain a complete appreciation of the value engaging a real estate professional. Conducting real estate transactions is a very serious matter and should be best left to qualified professionals. Why not leave that to me as your Realtor. In fact, it’s best to leave during a showing so as not to intimidate the buyers. They’ll stay longer and provide more honest feedback if you’re not around.
   
   
9. Not acting on objective feedback
   The feedback your Realtor provides about comments potential buyers make regarding your home should be taken seriously and acted on. If you’ve ever seen “Sell This House” on TV, you know how brutally honest people can be about the homes they visit. The mistake is not listening to, and acting on, their observations.
   
   
10. Signing a contract with a No-Escape clause
    Make sure you can rescind your contract if you’re unhappy with your Realtor. Some people just aren’t a good fit; make sure you can work well with your Realtor.

By following this advice, you will be able to more successfully sell your home. It should be an easy process with the right help. Choose your Realtor carefully and you’ll have an enjoyable selling experience. By the way, I’d love to offer my expertise. Contact me now!

Why not take a look at the 5-Star Marketing Plan!