Laura Chang
MBA, REALTOR®
15 Mistakes Sellers Make When Listing Their Home

    1.  Pricing Your Home Too High - Your agent can research comparable sales in your area and advise you of the appropriate price range for
    your property.

    2.  Errors in Market Timing - Ask a real estate professional to determine whether the market cycle is poised to net you the most money.

    3.  Lack of Access for Property Showings - Lock boxes are a great way to make your home most accessible to agents for showing.
    Appointment only showings are the most restrictive. If your lifestyle is not compatible with frequent showings, your agent will help you determine
    a solution to suit your needs. Remember, the easier a home is to show, the better the odds are of getting the deal you want.

    4.  Not Utilizing Current Marketing Technology - Make sure your agent utilizes the latest technology, such as Internet sites that cater to
    homebuyers. A good agent will know where you can get the best exposure.

    5.  Not "Staging" Your Property Correctly - Put some items in storage, create more light, play music or otherwise improve the ambiance.
    Your agent can offer helpful advice to create the right first impression.

    6.  Believing that Selling Property is Seasonal - Don't base selling decisions on the seasons. Property sells year round.

    7.  Pricing Your Property Too Low - A real estate agent will help ensure that no money is left on the table.

    8.  Not Re-evaluating the Marketing Plan - Re-evaluate your agent's marketing plan every 10 days. Make needed adjustments based
    on the current market and buyers.

    9.  No Offers Doesn't Mean Your Agent Isn't Doing the Job - Most Sellers are unaware that 80% of all buyer activity comes from the sign
    and MLS - any agent can provide that. So, if you don't have a problem showing the home but it hasn't generated any buyers, it may be time to
    re-evaluate the price.   

    10. Ignoring the Importance of First Impressions - Sales have been blown by unkept lawns, cluttered closets, unpainted front doors, hard-
    to-work locks, blown light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas and bad smells. Spend time on the little things. Double up on your gardening.
    Keep things cleaner than usual. Take serious control of your pets during this time period.

    11. Not Making the Right Kind of Repairs - Don't be tempted to make improvements prior to listing without consulting a real estate
    professional. Some upgrades will not yield any real increase in value, while others may increase property value substantially. Ask for low cost
    solutions to minor repairs that will yield the best profits.

    12. Not Giving the Sales Effort Enough Time - Homes may take 3-6 months to sell in any market. Estimate how much time you have before
    you need to sell and then plan ahead to allow extra time. You don't want to be forced to accept a disappointing offer.

    13. Not Screening Prospects Adequately - One of the best reasons for hiring a Realtor® is his/her ability to pre-qualify a prospect
    financially before valuable negotiation time is lost. Your agent may discover when a prospect has an ulterior motive for shopping homes, other
    than purchasing.

    14. Believing You Can't Make a Difference - You can make your friends aware that you are selling your home.  You can also hand out
    flyers and keep the house in move-in condition. Your Realtor® should be ready to hand you all sorts of assignments to make the team efforts
    successful.

    15. Testing the Market - Never put your property on the market unless you really want a sale! Get ready for a professional sales push when
    you list with a great agent. If your plan harbors some indecision, resolve it before your list because success is every great Realtor®'s
    objective!  
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