Avoid These 5 Common Home Selling Mistakes

Hiring the first realtor you meet. You want to be sure the realtor you select to sell your home knows the market, the neighborhood and has experience selling a home like yours. You want a realtor who will be honest with you, even though it may be hard to hear that the price you want to sell your home for may be too high.

Ignoring the market. Housing markets vary by states, cities, towns and even neighborhoods. Your home price can be impacted by things that are out of your control, like the local economy or mortgage rates. If you’re in a hot market, you’ll benefit. If you’re not, be realistic with your expectations. Just remember that the market is the same whether you’re selling or buying, so if you get less than you wanted, you will probably pay less for your next home if you stay in the same area.

Hiding flaws. Florida law requires you to make certain disclosures about the condition of the home you are selling. But even if it didn’t, it’s always best to be honest about any major work you’ve done on the house or major known defects so you don’t face any legal issues in the future.

Overpricing. When you overprice your home, you make it stand out and not for a good reason. People who can afford the price will compare it negatively with others in the same price range and buyers who could afford your home where it should be priced won’t make an offer. The result is that your home will sit on the market, and that is a negative.

Ignoring your Realtor’s advice. If you’ve chosen correctly, your Realtor should be the one person you really listen to when it comes to strategies for selling your home quickly and for the best price. If they tell you that the home needs to be de-cluttered or staged, listen. Buyers react negatively to homes that need repairs or are messy.