Steer Clear of These 37 Potential Pitfalls When Selling Your Real Estate Property
Selling your home can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation and a strategic approach, you can make your property stand out and attract potential buyers. Here are some key tips to help you navigate the process:
Transform Your Space
Modernise Your Fixtures
Swapping builder-grade bathroom and kitchen fixtures for modern options can significantly transform a room's style. Sometimes, it's just a new faucet that can make a difference.
Improve Your Outdoor Space
A patchy lawn, weedy garden, or sagging fence can deter potential buyers. To rectify this, reseed grass, edge walkways, add fresh mulch or stone, remove dead plants, prune back shrubs, and install landscape lighting for nighttime viewings.
Create a Comfortable Atmosphere
Play soft background music or use a white noise machine during showings if your home is near a busy street. This can help create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for prospective buyers.
Stay Ahead of the Game
Work with a Trusted Local Agent
An experienced realtor brings in-depth expertise on local market trends and pricing strategies, skilled negotiations, connections to a broad network of buyers and industry professionals, and coordination of showings and paperwork.
Be Prepared for Inspections
Surprises after an offer can derail a sale or lead to expensive renegotiations. It's common for inspections to uncover issues like leaky faucets, malfunctioning garage doors, cracked foundation walls, worn roofing, or outdated electrical outlets.
Present Your Home in the Best Light
First Impressions Matter
Old or faded house numbers, tarnished door handles, and loose mailboxes can hurt first impressions. Install modern, easy-to-read house numbers, match mailbox style to other exterior elements, and replace or polish hardware for a crisp, put-together facade.
Shop Smart for Upgrades
You don't always need to break the bank to make your home more appealing. Shop sales or discount stores for trendy, affordable upgrades.
Organise and Clean
Declutter and Deep Clean
A clean, bright, and thoughtfully staged home truly stands out. Remove excess furniture, arrange each space for easy flow and purpose, and use "floating" furniture arrangements with rug anchors for a designer look that maximises space.
Stay on Top of Maintenance
Weekly yard checks during your listing period keep your home ready for impromptu showings.
Be Flexible and Realistic
Be Open to Last-minute Showings
Being flexible and open to last-minute showings, even though it can be inconvenient, can help speed up the selling process.
Approach Negotiations with an Open Mind
Approach negotiations with an open mind and willingness to compromise. Sometimes, agreeing to a small fix or minor price adjustment seals the deal.
Leverage Local Expertise
Choose the Right Real Estate Agent
Choosing the first realtor you come across online isn't a smart choice. Interview multiple agents, ask for references, and choose someone with proven experience selling homes in your area.
Tailor Your Home to Local Preferences
A local realtor plays a crucial role in tailoring the preparation and décor of the home to the specific area's buyer preferences and market conditions. They offer insights into what features and aesthetics attract buyers locally, recommend strategically effective staging and improvements, and help set a realistic price based on the neighborhood and current demand.
Maximise Your Sale Price
Invest in Professional Photography
Professional real estate photographers understand staging, angles, and lighting that make your home stand out online, leading to more showings and potentially driving up the sale price.
Highlight Modern Security Features
Highlight security features like smart locks, cameras, and motion-sensor lights during showings to signal modern upgrades.
Timing is Key
Don't Limit Yourself to Spring
While spring is often the best time of year to get a sale (for the fastest sales and best pricing), this rule isn't rigid. Consider the season, when you need to move or purchase another home yourself, etc.
Document Your Home
Keep a Binder with Relevant Information
Start a binder with all relevant home info before listing, including manuals, warranties, and receipts for appliances or upgrades.
Final Touches
Update Your Entryway
Clean, repaint, or replace garage and entry doors if they're dented or dated. Functioning locks and smooth opening mechanisms give a sense of safety and pride.
Add Finishing Touches
Replace worn doormats, upgrade basic lighting, and swap out dated switch plates for instant polish.
By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to a successful home sale. Good luck!
- The modernisation of fixtures, such as new faucets, can significantly enhance a room's style, making it more appealing to potential buyers.
- A well-maintained outdoor space, with a pruned garden, fresh mulch or stone, and landscape lighting, can help attract more buyers to your property.
- To create a comfortable atmosphere during showings, consider playing soft background music or using a white noise machine.
- Working with a trusted local agent can help navigate the complexities of real estate, from pricing strategies to skilled negotiations.
- Being prepared for inspections can prevent unexpected issues from derailing a sale or leading to costly renegotiations.
- A clean and decluttered home, with trendy upgrades and designer furniture arrangements, can truly stand out in a crowded market.
- Tailoring the home to local preferences, as suggested by a local real estate agent, can help optimise its appeal to buyers in the specific area, potentially driving up the sale price.
