5 Mistakes Home Sellers Should Never Make (No Matter What)

When you decide that it's time to sell your home, you may feel like you are ready to put it on the market that very day. However, there are lot of things to consider before you place your home for sale and start working with your real estate agent on staging and showing your property. As you move forward towards selling your house, be careful to avoid making these mistakes.

Stop! Don't Let Your Emotions Sabotage Your Actions

Sometimes home sellers get caught off guard by the strong emotions that can surface when they are selling their home. They may act irrationally or even angrily, and unprofessional behavior that is inspired by those emotions can scare away potential home buyers and even real estate agents. It can sabotage an almost done deal.

Stop! Don't Overestimate the Worth of Your Home

It can seem like a harmless thing to list your home for sale at a price that is more than it's worth. After all, if the house is worth a certain amount to you, you may feel entitled to place it for sale at that price. However, if you overestimate the worth of your home when placing it on the market, it can stay for sale a long time, which can ultimately hurt its odds of being sold and force you to accept a lower offer than you deserve.

Stop! Don't Go Overboard with Clutter Removal

Clutter can be detrimental to selling your home, but going overboard with clearing out your home can also be a mistake that scares away potential home buyers. Don't have a house that's too bare, or it will be hard for potential home buyers to imagine themselves living there.

Stop! Don't Avoid Hiring a Real Estate Agent

If you are ready to place your home for sale, you should have already consulted a real estate agent. It's never too late to do so. Although you may be tempted to try to sell your home all by yourself to save yourself the real estate agent's fee, doing so is too risky and not worth it. A real estate agent does so much of the work of selling your home that you will likely be rushing to hire one if you do try do it solo.

Stop! Don't Neglect Making Necessary Repairs

You should make all serious home repairs well before the closing on your home. In fact, sometimes it's a good idea to do the necessary home repairs before even placing your home for sale. If you neglect making the repairs that are necessary for your home, potential home buyers may assume that the house has not been well maintained.

Finally, keep in mind that the exceptions to these rules are rare. When you are putting your real estate for sale, try to think carefully before making any major decisions. Be sure to consult your real estate agent if you have any questions or feel unsure about whether you should take a certain action as a seller. Tread carefully and put yourself in the buyer's shoes as you move forward with placing your real estate for sale.