Selling your home is a significant life decision. It can be highly challenging if done without proper thought and preparation, especially with the emotions and complexities involved.
From coming up with the selling price to entertaining buyers to preparing your property for viewing, making your house available on the market can be full of challenges. Thus, find out which common mistakes to avoid so you can snag the best deal for your home sale.
1. Failing To Consider Your Financial Situation
While money isn’t the only reason for selling a home, it’s a crucial consideration before and after the sale. By finding out how much you have and how much you need, you’ll be able to make smarter decisions.
For instance, knowing how much you owe your lender for your current home mortgage is an essential factor in considering how much you’ll get from the home sale. Calculating how much you’re going to get and how soon you want the cash on your hands will help you find the best way to sell your home.
There are three main ways to sell your property: with the help of a real estate agent, via for sale by owner (FSBO), and through local home buying companies, such as Ocean City Development Massachusetts. Each has its upsides and drawbacks, so study them carefully.
2. Not Knowing How To Price Your Home
Just because you need to have USD$300,00 by the end of the sale doesn’t mean you can price your home the way you want it. In selling a real estate asset, one has to look at a few things, particularly the market performance and the prices of similarly structured houses in your neighborhood. These two are the primary considerations in the fair market value.
Pricing your home too high will impact its appeal to the buyers, and pricing it too low may leave money on the table. So, aim for the correct value to optimize your property sale.
3. Not Preparing Your Home Well Enough
Homebuyers will probably back out of the deal when the house in question requires too many repairs. When a property isn’t looking as good as it should be, it’ll be more challenging to sell.
Regular home maintenance works are ideal for saving you from spending on costly repairs. Make minor home changes that make a good impact. Sprucing up the fixtures, handles, re-caulking the windows, and repainting, are a few more common property facelift tasks. Also, make sure that your home is clean on both the inside and the outside.
When showing your home to potential buyers, highlight the best features and amenities. But, don’t hide some issues, too, as, in some states, you may be legally liable for not disclosing your property’s condition.
4. Not Underestimating The Expenses Involved
You may be the one selling a home, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to spend. As every home seller would know, home repairs, no matter how you keep them simple, can still put a dent in your pocket. Additionally, you’ll have to pay up to six percent in commission fees to your real estate agent. Finally, you may have to rent out a storage space for a few months or pay the moving company if you have a new place to stay. In some states, you’ll also need to pay a lawyer to finalize the transaction.
Having every expense calculated can also give you a better idea as to how much you’ll earn and which route to take to sell your home. For example, instead of hiring an agent, why don’t you list it on your own? If you’re pressed with time and need cash as soon as possible, offer your property to home buying companies.
5. Listing On The Wrong Selling Period
Spring is the best time to offer your property for sale, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The said organization studied the sale and price patterns from 1999 and found out that home selling transactions from May to August account for an average of 40% of the yearly sales. NAR has identified June as the peak month for home selling. Conversely, lean months are typically from November to February, suggesting it’s not a good idea to sell during the winter as the chances of a sale at your ideal price are slim.
Because of the holidays and cold weather, homeowners may not be as keen to transfer to a new property during the warmer season.
Final Thoughts
Knowing which common pitfalls to avoid in selling a home is critical before listing your property. Who would’ve known that selling it at the wrong time and taking a less holistic approach could impact your property sale?
So, before offering your property on the market, take your time, quickly learn how property selling works, and study all selling options to ensure a successful transaction.