If you're preparing to sell your home, then you probably don't want it to sit on the market for any longer than it needs to. This may be especially true if you're counting on profits from the sale of your home to make a down payment on your next house. As you get your home ready to list, there are some common mistakes you'll want to avoid that could otherwise cause your home to sit on the market for days or even weeks longer than necessary.
Foregoing a Professional Stager
One of the best investments you can make when selling your home is that of hiring a professional home staging service to come out and work their magic. Home staging not only reduces the amount of time your home is likely to sit on the market, but could help your home sell for more money as well. Specifically, professional staging is a great way to help potential buyers envision themselves living in your home and seeing all the functional space.
Trying to Sell Without an Agent
While going the FSBO route may seem like a good way to maximize profits on the sale of your home, rarely is this actually the case. Homes that are listed without a real estate agent not only tend to sit on the market longer, but sell for less. Yes, you'll spend a little more by hiring a real estate agent and paying his/her commission, but you'll also enjoy a much smoother selling process.
Overpricing Your Property
One of the biggest mistakes sellers make when listing their home is that of overpricing it from the beginning. Instead, you should price your home competitively based on current neighborhood comparables, which is a task any experience real estate agent can help you with. Overpricing your home will drive potential buyers away and probably lead to the need for a price reduction after it sits on the market for awhile.
Neglecting Curb Appeal
Last but not least, don't overlook the importance of curb appeal when listing your home. Many of today's buyers judge books by their covers, meaning they won't even consider setting foot inside a home that doesn't look well cared for and maintained from the outside. Now is a good time to make sure your landscaping is up-to-par and to consider repairing or replacing bad siding, damaged brick, and the like. These small upgrades can make a huge difference.
After thinking long and hard about what to do with my living situation, I finally made the decision that it was time to buy a house. I was tired of living paycheck to paycheck because of rent, so I began working with professionals to guide me in the right financial direction. I was able to find a great company that offered exactly what I wanted to learn, and they walked me through the financial aspects of home ownership. Within a few short months, I was living in a gorgeous new home that I absolutely loved. Check out this blog for great advice on home ownership.