1. Making it difficult for Buyers to view it.
The more viewings, the more likely it will sell. Most viewing requests are for the evening or the weekend, when it's most convenient for the Buyers. Unfortunately that means it's likely less convenient for you, the Seller, but the truth is selling your home isn't convenient. It's often the case that if a Buyer is refused a viewing time, they likely won't try to reschedule it, so it's important to be flexible throughout the entire time your home is on the market. What you can do is make your home available for viewings for a set period of time everyday, like 10am to 8pm.
2. Not caring about the details.
Buyers often judge what they can’t see, by what they can. It's not that big of a jump to think that your furnace and water heater haven't been maintained when the carpets are dirty and there's scuff marks all over the walls. If a Buyer concludes that your grubby shower = mould under the tiles, your house becomes less valuable in their eyes and they may just walk away.
3. Not listening to the market and buyer's feedback. One of your Real Estate Agent's most important jobs is to translate what's happening in the market and how Buyers are reacting to your home. Indicators that something isn't working are too few viewings scheduled or many viewings but no offers. If the market is decreasing, you need to price below the last sale. There’s nothing worse than chasing a declining market down.
4. Sharing the wrong information on social media.
Stop sharing the woes of your sale on social media, and that goes double for talking about the things you hate about your house. Smart agents will Google a Seller before making an offer and there’s nothing more damaging to your sale than if that agent sees your desperation and panic in print. It happens more often than you can imagine.
5. Not being ready for a showing.
Sometimes Buyers will book last-minute appointments to see your home, so you need to make sure it’s always in tip-top shape. Make your bed, do the dishes, clean the litter box, take out the garbage, sweep the dog fur from the floors, put away your dirty clothes every day. There’s nothing more stressful than being at work and having to refuse a showing because your home is a mess.
6. Getting offended from an offer.
You finally get an offer and it’s for $30,000 below your asking price, don't take it personally. Buyers often use this as a negotiating tactic to test your motivation yet may be willing to pay what you’re prepared to accept. A skilled agent can guide and protect you through low ball offers and make sure that your emotions don’t get in the way of your sale. It’s frivolous to walk away from an offer without at least trying to negotiate.
7. Forgetting to mention that you're going away for a spell.
Those last-minute spontaneous getaways are fun, and no doubt you could use a little fun at this time. You need to let your Agent know. Offers often have a very short time frame before they expire, so it’s critical that we’re able to get hold of you. We can do amazing things with technology, so as long as you’ve got a cell phone connection, we can make it happen. As an Agent, there’s nothing more stressful than finally getting an offer and not being able to locate your Seller.
8. Staying home during showings.
There are very few circumstances where this is acceptable but is entirely acceptable if your mobility is difficult. There is no other reason to stay home during showings and every reason to leave. Buyers cringe (for lack of a better word) when they find out the Seller is home.
9. Accepting mediocre service and marketing from your REALTOR®.
There’s a lot more to selling your house than just listing it on the MLS, and if your agent doesn’t have a proactive plan to market your home, you need to insist on it (or get a new agent). A comprehensive marketing plan should include at minimum, professional photography, online marketing, agent-to-agent marketing and open houses. Make sure the marketing your agent is doing is aimed at selling your house, and not just getting themselves more clients.
10. Panicking if you aren’t selling.
We all hear stories about the houses that sell in hours or the neighbor that received 5 offers on the first day. If your home is taking longer to sell than you expected then talk to your Agent about the options available to you, and remain calm. This is probably your biggest financial asset, so don’t risk it to emotions. Have a fantastic day,
Monique
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