I've discussed common mistakes that homeowners make when selling their home. Among these mistakes I have included Overpricing and Negligent Housekeeping.
Sellers should rely upon, and expect from, their real estate agents information, direction and advice on how to make their home stand out from the competition, attract more buyers, and sell quicker and for top dollar. What some sellers may not realize is that the condition of their home plays a huge, huge role in buyers' perceptions of the home in general. A few minor broken items may cause buyers to wonder what else may be wrong with the house that they cannot see.
So, this brings us to the latest Top Seller Mistake:
Failing to Fix-It
Consider that most buyers are happiest when moving into a home that is in near-perfect condition. When scanning real estate ads, you will often see homes listed as being in "move-in condition," and this statement tends to resonate with buyers. If buyers look at a home and see that they will have to fix the roof, replace the garage door, remove peeling wallpaper or just about anything, this may give them pause about buying. At the least, it will lower the perceived value of your home in the buyers' eyes.
For best results and most profitable sales, sellers should perform all needed work on the home and the landscaping prior to going on the market. A model-perfect home is going to attract the highest price.
Sellers should have pre-sale inspections performed on their home prior to the marketing of the home. This will allow the homeowners to find out what, if anything, is defective about their home. It will avoid any costly surprises that can arise from buyers' inspections. And, it allows the sellers the time and convenience of being able to shop around for the best contractors and the best prices to fix these items now. Then, if and when the buyers have their own inspections performed, the sellers can relax knowing their home has already been checked out by a competent inspector, repairs have been made, and the buyers' inspector should not turn up anything of concern.
As a seller, allow yourself the luxury of selling a well-cared for and maintained home. Don't allow any surprises to sour the negotiation between you and the buyers. Take care of things up front, and avoid potentially costly negotiations during the contract period. And, you'll be allowing the buyers to move into your home with the trust that the home has been cared for and attended to. That's a good thing!
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