7 Biggest Mistakes Sellers Make and How to Avoid Them

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7 Biggest Mistakes Sellers Make and How to Avoid
Them
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• Homeowners often watch their homes sit on the
  market for months with very little activity. Or
  they have numerous buyers who come through the
  home and never put in an offer. They wonder why
  no one else has fallen in love with the home they
  adore. If youre about to list your home, you
  should learn about the biggest mistakes sellers
  make and how to avoid them before you make your
  next move.

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1. Not Doing Your Own Home Inspection
If you have an older home, its a good idea to
have a home inspector give you the low-down on
your propertys condition. While you have to pay
for it out-of-pocket, it will be money
well-spent. You can find out the issues ahead of
time and decide which ones to fix to increase the
selling price or to reduce the time it takes for
your home to sell.
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2. Not Doing Easy Updates and Preps

• Even people with limited budgets can do something
  to make their homes more appealing to buyers.
  Sellers who hurry to put the For Sale sign out in
  the yard without making the necessary cosmetic
  changes will regret it. Even a bucket of paint
  can make a major difference in how your home
  appears to buyers, and it costs less than 20.
  Cleaning is another area sellers should never
  skimp on, and paying a professional company is
  well worth the investment.

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3. Ignoring Curb Appeal

• Overgrown bushes, dead grass, or a white picket
  fence thats no longer white can detract from
  your home. Buyers who drive past your property
  wont even consider stopping if they dont like
  what they see. Landscaping improvements can help
  a home sell up to six weeks faster and boost the
  value by as much as 14, according to the
  Associated Landscape Contractors of America. It
  doesnt cost a lot of money to make improvements
  if you purchase in-season plants and focus on
  clean-up.

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4. Setting Price Too High

• If youre working with an experienced real estate
  agent, this shouldnt be a mistake you make. Your
  agent will be upfront about how much you can get
  out of the home based on current market
  conditions. The key is to listen to their advice
  and be willing to drop the price if you dont get
  enough action. It also never hurts to have an
  appraisal so you have a good idea of pricing. You
  dont want to list your home for more than its
  worth, because buyers may not be able to afford
  the difference and lenders wont lend over the
  appraised amount.

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5. Not Knowing What Youll Do Next

• Sellers often wait to buy their next home until
  their current home is under contract. While this
  strategy makes sense if you cant afford two
  mortgages, it may delay the sale. Sellers who ask
  for a longer closing date may miss out on buyers
  unless theyre willing to offer other bonuses,
  such as paying closing costs or reducing the
  price. The better strategy is to have a plan in
  place if you sell your home and havent found a
  new one. Short-term rentals or moving in with
  family or friends are two options for the interim
  time.

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6. Choosing the Wrong Real Estate Agent

• One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is
  choosing a real estate agent based solely on a
  recommendation or because they know the person.
  Even if the person is a good agent, they may not
  be right for you or your situation. Choosing an
  agent should come from careful consideration and
  a lot of thought. They should be experienced in
  selling homes and marketing, and they should know
  your neighborhood. Otherwise, they may not know
  how to bring in the right buyers, and your home
  will sit on the market longer.

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Not Appealing to the Buyers

• While you may think its your agents job to sell
  your home, its really your job, too. Whether
  youre trying to help by advertising your home or
  updating it to make it appeal to buyers, you have
  to know who your buyers are. Studies show that
  Millennials are the biggest category of home
  buyers with Generation X buyers coming in second.
  You should know what theyre looking for and how
  to appeal to them. For instance, dont assume the
  next buyer will be just like you and have three
  kids and a dog. Chances are if youve outgrown
  the house, it wouldnt appeal to them. Instead,
  your likely buyer may be a young couple or even a
  single person looking for a small starter home.
  Creating a neutral space anyone can imagine
  themselves living in will help your home sell
  faster.
• Avoid these seven common mistakes of buyers and
  your home is sure to sell faster and for more
  money.

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Questions? More Information?

• Website http//michaelputnam.com/
• Michael Putnam
• info_at_michaelputnam.com
• 703-928-6514
•  
• Sources
• http//www.realtor.com/advice/sell/8-costly-home-s
  eller-mistakes/
• http//michaelputnam.com/selling-your-home/
• http//michaelputnam.com/7-biggest-mistakes-seller
  s-make-avoid/