You would like to get the best price for your house, plus sell it in the least amount of time. In a buyers\’ market like the one emerging now, houses will take longer to sell. For that reason, it\’s important that you make the right moves in the very beginning of your homeselling process to remain competitive. Here are some top house seller mistakes and traps that home owners fall into and how to avoid them.
* Over-pricing – It\’s easy to think your house is worth more than the current market may support, particularly after the long run-up in house costs. Given that house costs have cooled down in markets around the country, house sellers should be ready to negotiate on price and terms, and stay flexible to other stipulations benefiting the buyer. Sellers must also keep their feelings in check during the process. After all, your home is special to both you and your family, and you\’re proud of the improvements you\’ve made over the years. But, how does your house really stand up to the others? And are those improvements important to a potential buyer? To find out a reasonable listing price, get sales statistics on houses in the neighborhood including listing prices and actual sales prices, how long it took for the houses to sell, and government valuation comparisons. You\’ll also need a market appraisal on your property. Go to homes for sale in your area and examine what you see in terms of sales appeal.
* Negligent Housekeeping – Buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living in the home. Have a good, objective look at the condition of your house. Clean, well-kept homes with an up-to-date look usually stand out, along with a little decorating appeal can go a long way. It\’s not necessary to buy new furniture to create charm, but you can put toys and clutter away, freshen up paint and carpet, make the most of window coverings, and add a few key accessories in order to send out welcoming signals.
* Failing to Fix-It – Buyers, unless they are searching for a fixer-upper, would prefer to move into a house that\’s in perfect or near-perfect condition. If they have to repair the roof, a broken tile floor, the garage door, worn carpet or just about anything, this could give them pause about buying. At the minimum, it may reduce the value of the home in the prospective buyer\’s mind.
* Not Identifying Exclusions – This is often a cause of contention just at a critical point in the sale. Be sure to specify any special sales considerations or exclusions from the fixtures and furnishings list. Usually, anything permanently fixed towards the home is definitely an asset that remains with the home after the sale. Therefore you intend to take your grandmother\’s antique chandelier that\’s hanging in the dining room, clearly specify the chandelier isn\’t included in the sale price.
* Not Understanding the Agent Agreement – Your sales endeavor will certainly go smoothest whenever all parties have a clear understanding of what is expected. Understand the types of agency agreements whenever you sign with a real estate professional or company. Make sure you check on costs, commission percentages, marketing plans and timeframes. Most importantly, get everything in writing.
Learn more tips for house sellers at http://darline.bazile.pcragent.com. Find the perfect home. Not in the Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia areas? Not a problem…as a real estate agent for over 10 years, I can refer many top notch realtors and agents at no cost to you.
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