1. Not Clearing the Clutter

It’s hard to show the beauty and features of your home when it’s full of clutter. It may not seem like clutter to you, but remember, buyers need to be able to envision their own stuff in your house. If they can’t see past your stuff to envision their own things, lots of times they will just walk away. Piles of paperwork, misplaced toys, crowded countertops, packed to the brim closets, and rooms too full of furniture can be overwhelming to buyers and make your house seem smaller than it really is.  If you can’t bear to part with your beloved things, go ahead and start boxing them up and stack the boxes neatly in the garage. You may be moving because you have outgrown the house, but don’t let the buyers see that. Keep countertops clean and clear and keep closets neat and no more than 2/3 full. Of course, we don’t want your home to be too minimal or uninviting, but buyers are coming to look at the house, not Aunt Audrey’s hand-me-down furniture that you don’t know what to do with.

2. Forgetting about Lighting

Dark and dim-lit rooms are only your friend if your prospective buyer is Batman or the Ninja Turtles. Bright well-lit rooms make your home feel bigger and more inviting. Consider buying daylight or cool white light bulbs. Open up curtains/blinds and turn on all lights and lamps before showings. Sometimes buyers will assume that light fixtures need to be replaced because a room is too dark. If that is a pattern throughout the house, then they could think it’s more costly than what they’re interested in and they walk away. When, in reality, changing bulbs or even the light shades/glass on the fixture makes a world of difference for much less money.

3. Hiding Major Repairs

As a seller, you fill out a Sellers Disclosure form when listing your home and are required to disclose anything going on with the property. If you choose not to disclose an issue and think your buyer won’t notice a major problem, think again. They may not see it at first glance, but there’s a very good chance that it will come upon the inspection, or even worse after closing and it turns into a lawsuit. It is always best to be open and honest about everything! Remember it’s just a house, not your baby, things happen and it’s ok, just be upfront about it.

4. Pricing it Wrong

Pricing a home can be tricky! If you price it too low, you could miss out on thousands in profit. If you price it too high you could repel serious buyers and run the risk of your house being on the market so long that buyers question what’s wrong with it and send you lowball offers. This is where you trust your Realtor, not the internet or your neighbor. They will run a Competitive Market Analysis on your house and make sure you price it right from day one. If a house is priced right and dressed right it will sell for top dollar.

5. Selling Without Knowing Your Numbers

If you still have a mortgage on your home, a portion of the money you make when you sell will go towards paying off that mortgage.  If anyone has a lien against your property those will be paid out of your proceeds as well. There are also costs associated with selling/buying. Make sure that the Realtor you trust gives you a Net Sheet. This will show the approximate net profit you will make at the end of the transaction once everything is taken care of. By knowing these numbers, you can know how much negotiating will affect your bottom line. It will also help you not get into a situation where you are upside down in the transaction and taking a check to closing, instead of getting one back.