{"id":2401,"date":"2020-01-20T11:50:03","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T19:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/warealestatephotos.com\/?p=2401"},"modified":"2020-11-16T02:10:58","modified_gmt":"2020-11-16T02:10:58","slug":"17-mistakes-to-avoid-when-selling-your-house-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/17-mistakes-to-avoid-when-selling-your-house-3\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful, especially if it\u2019s your first time. Regardless of why you decided to sell your home, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal. Luckily, we\u2019ve put together a list of the most common home selling mistakes people make so you can sell your home knowing you have your bases covered. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Underestimating the cost of selling your house<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While you should ultimately profit from the sale of your home, many home sellers forget about the costs associated with selling a house. For starters, you should expect to use five to six percent of the total sale price of your home to cover the commissions of both the seller and buyer agents. For example, if you sell your home for $300,000 you could wind up paying upwards of $18,000 in commission. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, this hefty cost doesn’t include possible concessions homebuyers might want you to make during the negotiation phase, such as making repairs suggested by a home inspector.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not budgeting for your move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you consider the moving process, you have two options: hiring a moving company or borrow your buddy\u2019s truck and doing it yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By hiring a moving company, rather than doing it yourself, you\u2019re getting someone who will pack, move, and then unpack your belongings. This means that a full-service mover can be well worth the investment when you\u2019re preoccupied with all of the other tasks associated with selling your home. Not to mention,when you hire movers your belongings are insured so you\u2019re covered if anything breaks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selling a house you owe more on than what it\u2019s worth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you still have a remaining balance on your mortgage, you\u2019ll most likely use a portion of the sale proceeds of your home to pay off the existing mortgage. Make sure you don\u2019t owe more on your mortgage than what your house is actually worth or you won\u2019t make enough money on the sale to pay off your mortgage. The best option is almost always to wait on selling your home so that it can build more equity. This way you can sell your home and buy a new one without having two mortgages at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pricing your home incorrectly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you price your home too high, your home may fall into <\/span>seller\u2019s limbo<\/span><\/a>, sitting on the market for what feels like an eternity. On the other hand, if you price too low then you will likely sell your home quickly but you risk missing out on a significant amount of money. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step to understanding how much your home is worth is utilizing an <\/span>online calculator<\/span><\/a>. Afterward, meet with your real estate agent to discuss a good pricing strategy for your home. They will look at other comparable properties in your neighborhood that sold recently as well as bring keen insights into what the <\/span>housing market<\/span><\/a> is currently doing. Together, you\u2019ll determine a good starting price as well as a pricing strategy that will incentivise buyers if your house begins to sit on the market for too long.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skipping a pre-listing home inspection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Selling a house is stressful enough, even when everything goes right. But if a homebuyer hires an inspector who catches an issue like mold, pests, or a cracked foundation, then your stress levels will multiply as you risk losing a potential sale entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the affordability of home inspections, there\u2019s not much reason to avoid them. Getting a pre-listing home inspection will put your mind at ease as you\u2019ll either know that your home is in sound condition or you\u2019ll be able to tackle problems before homebuyers have the chance to bring them up during the negotiation phase. If an issue does arise, you can either fix it or you can let buyers know and then make a concession during the negotiation phase by reducing the price of your home accordingly. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not refinishing hardwood floors or cleaning your carpet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re reading this at home, look down. How do your floors look? Even if they don\u2019t look terrible, there\u2019s a pretty good chance they\u2019re starting to show their age. Since potential buyers are going to be inspecting every aspect of your home, you should start thinking of refinishing your hardwood floors and cleaning your carpet.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best time to have your carpet cleaned or hardwood floors refinished is right before you stage your home. Since you\u2019ll already be moving most (or all) of your furniture to either a new home or a storage unit, this is a great time to get your floors done and make them a selling point to potential homebuyers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not staging your home for a quick sale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main point of staging your home is to allow potential homebuyers the chance to picture themselves living in your space. They get to see a home with furniture and art that\u2019s arranged in a way that highlights key features of your home, rather than an empty house that echoes every sound. Staging your home pays off too as 21 percent of agents told the <\/span>National Association of Realtors<\/span><\/a> that staging a home increased its\u2019 sale price by as much as 10 percent, making it a worthwhile investment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a> (this is virtually staged!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forgoing professional real estate photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the advent of cameras on smartphones, everyone likes to think of themselves as a photographer these days. Even though that picture you took of your dinner last week looked like it could be featured in advertisements, you\u2019re still probably not ready to take your own real estate photos. A real estate photographer will make sure that your home looks great when you list it because not only do they have the equipment, they understand the angles that best sell a home. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you have a large home, a stunning view you want to show off, or a large amount of land, you may also want to consider having aerial photos taken of your home. The views that drones are able to capture are impressive and can help show off your home in a way that will make sure it stands out from other houses in your area that are on the market. Even better, drone technology makes this option more affordable than ever before, allowing you to get a lot more bang for your buck.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trying to sell a poorly lit home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You want to show your home in the best light, so take the time to really gauge the quality of your lighting by closing your curtains\/blinds and looking at each room as though you\u2019re a potential homebuyer. Make a note of any rooms that are poorly lit or just seem dark and then call an electrician so that you can have some additional lighting installed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even worse than a poorly lit room, however, is when the lights don\u2019t work at all. Sometimes the light bulb is just burnt out, while other times the socket itself is in need of repair. Consider calling an electrician before you begin showing your home to make sure it\u2019s shining its brightest. Potential buyers (and your bank account) will thank you for the investment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not making your home energy efficient<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like to spend less on your utility bills, you aren\u2019t alone. A study by the <\/span>National Association of Realtors<\/span><\/a> found that 33 percent of homebuyers see high-efficiency HVAC systems as an important factor when looking at a new home. If you have an older home, you should look into either retrofitting or replacing your HVAC unit altogether as your current system might be using a lot more energy than it needs to be. This will ensure that you have a system that is meeting your home\u2019s needs, while also lowering your utility bill.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re committed to <\/span>energy-efficiency<\/span><\/a> then there are a few extra things you can do. These options include making sure your home is properly insulated, ensuring that you don\u2019t have any leaky air ducts, and buying a smart thermostat. Whichever route you pursue, having an energy-efficient HVAC system will make your house stand out from the competition. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not cleaning your house before trying to sell it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of us would probably be lying if we said our homes weren\u2019t overdue for a good cleaning, so don\u2019t forget to check this box before listing your home for sale. There\u2019s nothing more off-putting during a home tour than realizing the house is dirty, and potential homebuyers may wonder what else you\u2019ve been neglecting. By hiring a professional cleaning company, you\u2019ll guarantee that not only is your home spotless but that you\u2019re going to make a great impression on homebuyers when they tour your house. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not addressing the exterior of your house<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, your home\u2019s exterior has taken a beating from the elements. With everything mother nature throws at it every year, the paint on your home\u2019s exterior and the stain on your deck have likely lost a bit of their luster. So before listing, be sure to pressure wash your house first. In addition to making sure your house looks its best in the listing photos, you will also enhance the overall curb appeal when buyers eventually show up for a tour. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to pressure washing your house and deck, you can also take the time to pressure wash your garage door, fence, patio, driveway, and any walkways you may have. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You never got around to repainting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the first things a potential buyer will notice when they pull up to your home is the paint. If you want to make a good first impression, then you\u2019ll need to ensure that your home is painted an inviting color and that the quality of your paint job is top-notch. While the job of repainting your house might take a few days, the value of painting your house before selling will be well worth the effort.  A recent<\/span> study<\/span><\/a> found that painting the exterior of your home has a 51 percent return on investment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t stop with the exterior though! We\u2019ve all seen some pretty questionable color choices on the walls of homes. If you happen to have a lime green or bright purple wall, you\u2019ll want to repaint them to be a more buyer-friendly neutral color. Doing so will make it easier for buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home as it makes them think of your walls as a blank canvas.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selling a home with a yard in need of some TLC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The other way to make a great first impression is by wowing potential buyers with your yard. Start by cleaning up anything that may be cluttering your yard, porch, or pathways (things like gardening equipment or a child\u2019s bicycle). Then you can move onto mowing the lawn, weeding your garden, and planting some new flowers. If your yard has a damaged pathway, you may also want to think about fixing or even replacing it as well. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these touch-ups seem like a lot to tackle while you\u2019re trying to sell your home, don\u2019t be afraid to hire a landscaper as the cost is well worth it. A study by <\/span>Turf Magazine<\/span><\/a> found that a home\u2019s value tended to increase by as much as 10 to 12 percent after making upgrades to the landscaping.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have mismatched appliances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maybe your black stove died a couple of years ago and you replaced it with a brand new stainless steel one. Or maybe you swapped out that white kitchen faucet you always hated with a copper one that caught your eye. Either way, the result is mismatched appliances. While it won\u2019t necessarily impact the overall sale price of your home, many homebuyers are going to find the mismatched color scheme off-putting, so consider making some changes before you sell. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to proceed is to decide which kitchen appliances are your favorite and base the color scheme off of them. So if that fancy new stove you bought last year is stainless steel, then make sure your other appliances are too. Luckily, many appliance manufacturers offer discounts if you purchase multiple appliances with them at once.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lingering during a home tour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nobody likes a lingerer, especially when they also happen to be the owner of the home you\u2019re currently touring. If you don\u2019t leave the home during a showing, then potential buyers feel awkward as they attempt to discuss what they like and dislike about the house. You also prevent your listing agent from being able to do their job to the best of their abilities as you\u2019re naturally going to want to answer any questions the buyers have rather than leaving those questions to your agent. So instead of staying in your home during a showing, try taking the opportunity to go shopping, run errands, or visit some friends instead. Your agent will thank you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a Lowball Offer Personally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of your reasons for moving, the fact that you\u2019ve probably lived in your home for years means that you have a lot of strong feelings attached to it. So when you receive a lowball offer, it\u2019s natural to be offended. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of walking away, send them back a counteroffer that you and your real estate agent think is fair. If they really are interested, then you\u2019ll be glad you didn\u2019t let your emotions get the better of you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally published on Redfin<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful, especially if it\u2019s your first time. Regardless of why you decided to sell your home, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal. Luckily, we\u2019ve put together a list of the most common home selling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}