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Health & Fitness

5 Biggest Home Seller Mistakes

Home sellers can expect competitive pricing this year as the real-estate market continues to shift towards sellers. If you’re in the market of selling your home in today’s highly competitive market, here are 5 common mistakes you need to know and learn how to avoid.

1)  Pricing your home too HIGH!

The most common mistake home sellers make is an overpriced home which will be overlooked by buyers and their agents. A seller who lists their house over the local market value will inevitably end up dropping the asking price eventually. By then, the interest on the property will have fizzled out and the freshness and appeal are lost. Another major downside, overpricing your home against comparable homes in your area makes those other homes look like a bargain.... You're basically giving competing home sellers an advantage!

DO your research on your local real estate market. Your Realtor should provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to analyze how much comparable homes in your area are currently selling for and have sold for in the most recent 6-12 months. This is the very same data Buyers and their Realtors, as well as Appraisers, are reviewing to determine the fair value of your property.

2) Your Home is too personal & cluttered

If you're really serious about selling your property it's time to De- Personalize, De-clutter & Deep Clean... period. Homes that shine, sell much faster and for top dollar. Give buyers and their agents a clean, clutter free canvas to work with. Temporarily put away the bits of your personal life in your home so that potential buyers can picture their life and their future home instead. Look at this process as an opportunity to begin packing up for your move once the property sells.

3) Be Proactive, Do Not Skimp on necessary improvements

Sellers often forget that the problems they don't notice are going to be glaring defects for potential buyers. Stains on the carpet, a loose doorknob or cabinet door....these minor issues get the buyer thinking about more serious problems. Buyers will begin to wonder about the overall maintenance of the property.

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DO Have someone come in and help you look through it. Your local real estate agent is a great resource here. They have never lived in your house so they can provide an objective perspective. Make a list of everything that needs to be fixed and touched up. Only after you make all the necessary adjustments should you have your agent list your home.


4) Limiting marketing opportunities

It's all about the marketing! Your house will not sell itself.... Sticking a for sale sign on the lawn and having your agent put it into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is not enough these days. Limiting listings from being marketed on various portals, means you will be missing out on a larger pool of buyers. It is imortant to understand the importance of online listing photos and their quality and composition is equally important. 90% of Buyers begin their search on line and if there are limited or poor quality pics, your just a click away from the buyer moving on. Pictures are your first opportunity to show the public the goods and they need to outshine the competition!

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DO all of your repairs, cleaning, trimming, and decluttering before having pictures taken of your home. Ask yourself...which house would a buyer prefer to visit & buy... one with pictures of messy rooms or the house which appears to be neat and sparkling clean?


5) Making your home difficult to view

It's crucial that you allow as many showings as possible, especially during the first 30 days. Today's buyer wants to see a property they like, yesterday! You can miss out on opportunities with potential buyers and their agents if they have to call you multiple times or if they can’t view your home at times that work for them.

DO consider allowing your Realtor to install a lock box with the house key in it attached to the front door. Only agents will be able to gain the access code or key for the lock box so you are not compromising your security.

The Checklist above will ensure that your home sells at a competitive price. Be proactive and prepare your home for viewing and listing, otherwise, be prepared to make concessions to your buyer–most likely cutting drastically into your profits.


Buying & Selling can be a daunting task in which you are going to encounter obstacles and mazes. I am available to help you navigate and simplify your journey. Whether you are buying, selling or simply keeping yourself updated, please feel free to contact me directly for assistance with all of your Real Estate needs.

Kim Katsenes
Broker,AHS,ePRO
Coldwell Banker Honig Bell
KimKatsenes@yahoo.com
Direct Mobile: 815.302.4255
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