When selling your house, it is natural to hope that you can sell it fast and at the price you are looking for. The big problem is that this doesn’t happen all the time.
The likelihood of selling your home fast at your expected price can even become lower if it’s your first time to put up a property for sale.
The good news is you can have a faster time selling your house while maximising the results by avoiding certain mistakes before and during the whole process.
Trusted estate agents from Bolton share below the top 6 mistakes you have to avoid before and during the home selling process:
1. Failing to make the necessary repairs
Before you put up a “For Sale” sign in front of your property or talk to a property agent, inspect your home or have an expert do this. You have to make sure your house is in good shape before you proceed with anything else.
The thought of having to invest in costly repairs such as a leaking roof, missing shingles, or covering holes in the walls, no matter how financially desirable your property is, is often a deal breaker for interested buyers.
So yes, you need to allocate time to get the needed repair work done. Fixing small or minor fixtures such as a broken doorknob or faulty cabinet drawers can help create a positive impression as well.
If you think there are too many things to repair, prioritise those ones that buyers can immediately spot or their home inspector is likely to discover quickly. This way, you can market your home much earlier as you work out a schedule to get the rest of the repair work done.
2. Not cleaning and decluttering
No one will want to look at, much less buy a dirty house. Before listing your home for sale, make sure you give it a deep cleaning. Start by cleaning the dirtiest areas in your home including the kitchen and bathrooms.
Make sure the carpets, floors, windows, floors, basement, garage, and other areas and surfaces in your home are all clean before you take photos, advertise, and show your home to people.
You need to declutter your home as well.
Potential buyers want to envision themselves living in your home. You can help them do this by removing all personal items from the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and the rest of the house.
By doing so, you will give the viewer an easier time imagining how their furniture will look in the different rooms, and how they will add their personal touches to the house. Keeping the place with only the bare essentials on display will make it seem bigger and make it look even more appealing.
You should just sell, store, donate, give away, or get rid of anything that you don’t use regularly or won’t bring to your new home as well.
3. Ignoring curb appeal
Possible buyers might simply drive right past your property or avoid entering if your exterior doesn’t look inviting. Sprucing up your outdoor space, features, and fixtures will help entice them to look inside when they arrive for an open house or private showing.
Start by tidying up and mowing your lawn, and placing some potted plants by the entryway. Clean and paint your fence, porch, and outdoor furniture if they look old and worn. Make sure your paths are tidy and well-maintained, too.
4. Not staging your house for photography and home showing
Whether your home is vacant or is still occupied, staging it will help boost its appeal and marketability. This will help you greatly when taking photos of your property, and during the actual home showing events.
Cleaning up and decluttering your home and outdoor space is a good start to staging your home. Rearranging furniture, placing vases with flowers on tables and countertops, hanging up some tasteful wall art, and changing your curtains can improve the look and ambiance of your property.
You can consider hiring a professional stager to stage rooms since they already have loaner pieces and accessories which they will expertly arrange to make your home more appealing to buyers.
5. Overpricing your property
Although you want to get a good price for the home that you love, setting the sale price too high often backfires since it can turn off a lot of potential buyers.
In some cases, it is may be profitable to set a lower price for your home than what you think it is actually worth since, in a seller’s market, this can stimulate competition among buyers. In the end, there is a good chance you will get a higher offer.
But if you want to set a realistic price now, do some market research. Go online to check the market value of listed properties in your area. An estate agent will also be able to use their experience and knowledge of the current local market to help you put the most attractive price for your property.
6. Not working with an estate agent
Lastly, if you want to sell your house fast, you have to work with a reputable and seasoned estate agency.
A good estate agent will handle all the processes involved in selling your house — from listing and advertising it, to negotiating with interested buyers.
Working with an expert will help lessen the stress and strain of selling your home as well. An estate agent with years of experience, valuable connections, and a track record of successful sales will be your best partner in successfully selling your property.
Being aware of these common mistakes will help you avoid them during the marketing and selling process. Working with an estate agent from the start will also ensure that you have a stress-free time before, during, and after you put your property on the market.
About the Author
Sally Jones is a Director and Co-Founder of The Purple Property Shop, an award-winning estate agent serving Bolton, Bury and the surrounding areas of North West England. The Purple Property Shop was founded in 2010 and quickly grew to become one of Bolton’s leading estate agents, specializing in residential property sales, property lettings and management.