When getting ready to sell a home, you’ll probably receive lots of advice from friends and family. They mean well, but the information shared isn’t always correct. In fact, some of those home-selling tips could actually hurt your home sale. Make sure you ignore these:
Price your home high
Of course, you want to sell your home at a great price. But those who tell you to price your home high to start are setting you up for problems. If your home is priced higher than your neighborhood comps, it is unlikely to sell quickly. In fact, your home could languish on the market and cause your listing to become stale. It’s essential to price your home correctly from day one.
Don’t make any updates
It can be tempting to listen to those who tell you to skip updating your home. Who wants to spend time and money upgrading a home they aren’t going to live in? I get it. But you need to be realistic and look at your home through the eyes of potential buyers. Most buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready. They don’t want to spend time and money getting the house fixed up before they can move in. Make any needed updates or repairs.
Always take the first offer
It’s tempting to take the first offer. But if you live in an area with a good housing market, you might miss out on better offers. You don’t have to take the first offer, especially if it’s a low-ball offer. There’s no harm in waiting to see what other buyers may come forward.
Paint over your problems
Nobody wants to admit their home has a mold problem or is in need of a major repair. Yes, it would be easier to simply paint over those problems and pretend like they don’t exist. And you may get away with it – at first. But if your buyer discovers you didn’t disclose these issues, it could create a serious problem. You need to address these repairs before you list, and make sure you disclose them.
The outside of the house doesn’t matter
Curb appeal is key when you’re selling. The front of your home is usually the first photo in an online listing. And it forms buyers’ first impressions when they arrive for showings or open houses. It doesn’t take much money or effort to spruce up your exterior and yard. And it’s an easy way to boost your chances of a quick sale.
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Susan Matthews serves greater Charleston, SC with Coldwell Banker. Contact her.
