It is amazing the stories I have heard from Sellers in reference to costly mistakes they've made throughout the selling process. I've had some tell me their errors in judgment have cost them time and sometimes money with huge disappointment. Below is a list, certainly not complete because other Realtors® like me could add to it again and again with similar stories that have been told to them. For now, here is my list.
Here you go: My Top Ten List of Home Seller Regrets!
10. I should have detached myself from my home and looked at it as a property for sale.
All of us believe our house is close to perfect. We've lived in it, slept in it, laughed, cried and made all kinds of improvements. The fact is, while we view our house as simply the best house, others won't and don't! Remember the old saying, "When you are selling your house it is no longer your home - it is a house for sale."
9. I should have de-cluttered and de-personalized.
Whether we've been in a house one year, two years or thirty, clutter almost always accumulates. If you can't somehow sell it or give it away, then rent a storage locker for the time your house is For Sale. Clutter can make your house look smaller and less appealing to a home buyer.
8. I should have hired a major maid cleaning service company.
I was looking at my back windows this morning off of my family room. Whew, do they need cleaning! The fact is, I hadn't noticed until today. If you are a smoker, you may not realize the smell of smoke that can linger in your house and that non-smokers will have a tendency to NOT want to buy it or even pass thru the front door to view your home once they catch a whiff. When you hire a professional cleaning crew they will attack the areas you wouldn't regularly have thought about or noticed. I can guarantee you that something overlooked here will almost always be a deterrent in selling your home.
7. I should have employed someone to stage my home.
Home stagers are especially gifted at arranging pictures; furniture and helping rooms look more presentable, spacious and inviting. A seller often has just one chance to make a positive first impression with a prospective buyer and it is when that person first walks thru the door. Failing here can certainly delay a sale.
6. I should have cleaned the garage.
Remember, your garage is part of the property. A garage that is organized, de-cluttered and clean will certainly enhance and possibly speed up your sale.
5. I should have paid attention to curb appeal.
Sellers often forget this point. Grass should be mowed, flowers planted in appropriate places and don't forget to trim the shrubs or apply fresh paint where needed, especially around the main entrance. If it is in the winter, snow and ice should be removed.
4. I should have had a home inspection and purchased a home warranty.
When a seller takes the time to hire a Professional Home Inspector and then purchases a Home Warranty, it helps to assure the buyer that the home is in "Move In" condition. It is an extra touch that can certainly make a difference because in our current "Buyers Market" sellers must offer something that is one or two steps above the neighbors who have their house for sale, down the street. Make sure your Realtor® makes note of these two areas in the MLS and other advertising.
3. I should have disappeared while my house was being shown.
I wrote an entire article on this regret and you need to read it by following this link: Do You Want To Sell Your House in This Buyers Market? Try Getting Lost!
2. I should have set a more realistic price.
This is huge! Over pricing your house in this market will almost always delay your sale or perhaps even deny you the sale of your home. Buyers are wise when it comes to which house on your street is over priced. Why should they pay more for yours than three or four doors down from you when your house is almost exactly the same as the one $20,000 dollars less? If you can buy something at one store for five dollars, why would you pay ten dollars down the street? I have heard so much regret over this one issue.
1. I should have hired a Realtor® rather than endeavoring to sell the house myself.
I know there is a lot of talk today about selling your house on your own. The fact is, many, many people try for six months to a year to sell their property only to eventually hire a Realtor® to list and sell their house. The regrets I've heard here are huge! Interview at least three agents. Make sure the agent you choose is heavily involved in technology since 80% of home buyers today look on the web for listings. Find out how much web traffic is generated on the agent's personal website. You will also want references; someone who returns every email and phone call and is easily reached. Make sure you feel "A Connect" with this person when it comes to communication. Finally, get their promises in writing and make sure what the agent is committing to is not what I refer to as, "Over Promising" just to get the listing. Hyperbole in Real Estate just doesn't cut it. If someone cannot be real when you interview them, then they will not be real further down the road and disappointment will fill the air.
Finally, you can avoid the above regrets. You see, the above "Should Haves" will never sell a house if they never happened. You need to visit BurrowsProperties and check out who David Burrows really is and the "Customer First" service he employs. There will be NO exaggeration here, just hard work until the task of selling your home is completed.
There is also another article worth reading on the subject of Common Selling Mistakes. Take a moment to read it.
Searching for a House?
Try my Fairfax Homes For Sale search - it is free with absolutely NO cost or obligation. No Registration Is Necessary!
Please Note:
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and ERA Champion Realty have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and ERA Champion Realty disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
David Burrows
ERA Champion Realty
Fairfax, VA 22033
Burrows Properties
Comments (0)Subscribe to CommentsComment