The 10 Biggest Home Selling Mistakes

The 10 Biggest Home Selling Mistakes

Selling a home in today’s market can be intimidating and stressful. Without question, it can challenge even the most confident home seller. So why would anyone want to make the process even more difficult? Let's take a look at the top ten most common mistakes home sellers make and how you can avoid making them yourself.

1. Setting an asking price that is unrealistic. The number one mistake a home seller can make is setting the wrong price for their home. Sure... it would be great to receive a top dollar for your home. But will overpricing your home actually help you do this? Rarely. The typical result of overpricing a home is buyer apathy. Overpriced homes tend to languish on the market month after month. They attract limited showings and receive no offers. Eventually, the frustrated sellers are talking with their real estate agent about lowering the price. Unfortunately, by the time the seller is ready to consider a price reduction they already squandered the first 30 days their home is on the market. This first 30 days is the golden time frame when a newly listed home has its greatest appeal to buyers. To compound this overpricing problem, once a seller finally lowers their price, their home appears in the Multiple Listing Service as a “Reduced Price” listing. Some home buyers interpret this as an indication the seller is getting concerned and may be willing to go even lower.

2. Foul odors.   One of the worse things a buyer can encounter when entering a house is a foul odor. National surveys indicate this is the number one turn off that makes buyers turn away and leave a home. The most common odors encountered are from tobacco smoke, pets, and mildew. Many home sellers become accustomed to their home’s smell.   They may be completely unaware of the offensive odor. A good way to identify these odors is to ask someone who doesn’t live in the house to drop by and give a candid opinion. If you do this and receive a “thumbs down”, don’t be offended. Instead, use this as helpful information and take action to correct the problem. Never try to cover up or mask odors. This won’t work. A much better approach is to eliminate or eradicate its source. This may be inconvenient to do, but if you are serious about selling your house, it must be done. If you ignore this advice, you’ll drive away countless prospective buyers.

3. Annoying dogs. Imagine how disturbing it is for a home buyer to drive up to a home and be immediately “greeted” by a barking dog.   Barking dogs frighten people. At the very least, barking dogs are an annoyance and distracting. If they see a barking dog in the front yard, many buyers won’t even get out of their car. They’ll just drive away. After all, who wants to confront a barking dog? Relocating a barking dog to the backyard or garage helps a little, but it is still an unwelcome distraction. Moreover, the buyers won’t be able to go into the backyard or garage. A dog’s incessant barking makes it difficult for buyers to talk to each other. It also conveys a negative impression about your house. The bottom line is that a serious home seller should remove pets during showings if at all possible.

4. Rooms that are dimly lighted.   Rooms that are hard to see (dark or dimly lit) are a big negative to home buyers. As a rule, a home should be as brightly lit as possible. Brightly lit rooms are inviting and pleasant. Here are some good ways to brighten up a room. Replace burnt out light bulbs or bulbs that are dim. Open drapes and window blinds. Let the sunshine in! If necessary, consider installing additional light fixtures. If a dim room has dark colors, repaint it with colors that reflect light. Trim overgrown trees and shrubs in front of windows. Clean dirty windows and replace fogged (or cracked) glass panes.

5. Wet or damp basements and rooms. A wet or damp basement/room is a big negative! It indicates a potentially serious problem. Except for those buyers looking for a “fixer-upper” home, dampness will make the buyer turn around and leave. It is absolutely essential that you correct the problem before putting your home on the market. If you don’t take corrective action, you are wasting your time selling the house unless you are willing to significantly reduce your asking price (or offer prospective buyers a monetary allowance pay for the necessary repairs).

6. Dirty and messy bathrooms. Bathrooms can be a major selling point for a home. They can also be a big turnoff. The condition of a bathroom gives buyers an indication about how well the home has been maintained. Bathrooms that smell foul or show stains repulse buyers. Make every bathroom as clean and fresh as possible. Do what is necessary... paint, scrub, remove old grout, and replace stained wallpaper. Make the sinks, toilet and tubs sparkle. If you have old shower curtains and towels, spend a few dollars to replace them. The time you spend making your bathrooms clean and inviting is time well spent. You cannot overlook this essential task!

7. Unsightly wallpaper.   Not everyone may appreciate your choice in wallpaper. If you aren’t sure about how buyers will feel about your home’s wallpaper, seek an unbiased opinion from a friend who is willing to be candid with you. You can also ask the opinion of an experienced real estate agent. Busy or loud wallpaper can be a distraction to buyers. Wallpaper tends to be a decorative choice that home buyers want to make for themselves. Your best bet is to remove questionable wallpaper and paint the wall in a neutral color. If you must have wallpaper in a room, select paper with soft colors and subtle patterns.

8. Pests.   If you want to see how fast home buyers can depart a house, let them encounter pests such as mice, roaches, or spiders. Pests are a home seller’s worse enemy. Take care of the problem before you put your home on the market. If necessary, contact a pest control company and have the problem eliminated. There is no debate on this issue. It is imperative that no pests exist in your house.

9. Exterior appearance. What’s the first thing a buyer sees when they arrive at your house? Answer: the exterior! When a house has an attractive exterior that catches the eye of buyers driving up (or passing by), it is said to have good “curb appeal”.    Having great curb appeal is essential. An attractive, well maintained exterior is pleasing to interested buyers. It beckons them to go in and view the house. In contrast, a home with an unsightly exterior or a poorly maintained lawn turns buyers away. In fact, many home buyers will not go into a house that needs paint, begs for a new roof, needs structural repairs, or has an unsightly lawn. Sprucing up your home’s exterior is one of the best things you can do to attract prospective buyers.

10. Homeowners who insist on hanging around when buyers arrive. Every experienced real estate agent will tell you that the homeowner (and family members) should, if at all possible, leave the home during showings. This is important. It is difficult for interested buyers to imagine a house as being theirs if the current residents are present. Moreover, buyers tend to feel awkward about opening closet doors, checking out rooms, inspecting kitchen pantries, and viewing other interior spaces with the current residents lingering. When faced with sellers who insist in sticking around the house, most buyers will be polite and friendly. They’ll take an abbreviated look at the home and then depart after a courteous “good-bye”. The seller will probably never hear from the buyers or their agent again. If a seller is worried about personal items being stolen, remove the items of concern from the house.

Julington Creek Plantation, Julington Creek, JPC, Homes Sale, Julington Creek Home Prices, Jacksonville FL 32259, Denise Bash, JCP, NW St Johns County, Riveroaks Plantation

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