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Listing Your House For Sale? Don't Make This Costly Mistake!

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

Selling a home is not something most people do often.   Lack of home selling experience  leads to many poor decisions, including ignoring the advice of experienced real estate professionals.  Real estate agents, home stagers, home inspectors, and professional photographers are often seen as an expense rather than an investment.

penny wise pound foolishSellers underestimate the value of hiring professionals and it's often their attempt to save money that costs them the most in the long run. Rather than focusing on the cost of a service, sellers should be more concerned with what the lack of professional advice could cost them.

As a Home Stager, I've met sellers who had no luck listing "for sale by owner" and finally sold after listing with an agent.  I've worked with sellers who had been on the market for many months with no action and then got an offer within 2 weeks of a home staging consult.  I've seen price reductions that could have been prevented if the seller had hired a home inspector prior to listing.

Selling a house requires strategic marketing.   A successful sale requires knowing your buyer pool, knowledge of the local market, and identifying maintenance issues.   It requires preparation and presentation to create visual and emotional appeal.   It requires high quality photography.

 

One of the biggest mistakes home sellers make is not realizing that money spent on experienced professionals is a wise investment.

Comments(25)

Broker Patty Da Silva Da Silva
Green Realty Properties® - 954-667-7253 - Cooper City, FL
Top Listing Broker

If they think paying a professional is expensive, wait til they hire an amateur. You always have great points Sharon!

Jan 17, 2014 12:42 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Great post, Sharon ... when selling your home, timing and preparation are everything!  The best results come from relying on professionals with experience doing what most homeowners have little knowledge about.

Jan 17, 2014 12:47 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Suzanne:  They have no clue....listing the house is just the beginning and there are so many ways they can get themselves in trouble and cost themselves money without guidance from professionals!

Patty:  Excellent point....my post is about sellers who don't see the value in hiring professionals.  I hadn't even considered the sellers who do hire professionals but go with the least expensive!  You get what you pay for!

Maureen:  Thank you!  It's that "little" knowledge that makes them think they can handle it themselves.   Doesn't usually pay off as they expected, LOL!

Jan 17, 2014 01:04 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Sharon, so true! I had only one FSBO since I started my business in 2009 who sold fast without the Realtor, but he was wise enough hiring Home Stager.

Jan 17, 2014 01:18 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Sharon, We know how true this is.  Many sellers can't see it until it's too late or they already lost opportunities that cost them more than if they had just taken the advice of a professional and spent the money to prepare their home for sale.  

Featured in the BananaTude Group!

 

 

Jan 17, 2014 02:14 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Shaon, It is a wise investment and it is a litlel like pay me now or pay me later.

Jan 17, 2014 03:05 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sharon - you always put it so well.  Why not invest in professional help to insure your future!

Jan 17, 2014 03:20 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Very wise advice Sharon. It takes a professional to do a pros job. I have seen FSBOs sit and not sell and then when a Realtor takes over things change. On the other hand I have seen homes that were empty sit and then when staged properly sell immediately.

Jan 17, 2014 05:40 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Sharon,

Excellent post and advice - hiring the right professional(s) is a key component in selling (and buying) a home.

Jan 17, 2014 05:42 AM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Tara-That saying from oh so long ago is still in effect-"penny-wise and pound foolish."

Jan 17, 2014 08:26 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Anna:  It's not something I would attempt without an agent.  Too many things to go wrong.  It's well worth the commission to know there is a professional dealing with all the details!

Kathleen:  I appreciate the Feature, thank you!  

Debbie:  How about pay me now or "pay me much more later", LOL!

Kathy:  Insure is a good choice of words.  It's your future you are protecting!

Noah:  Funny how simple the process seems...until they get knee deep and start to realize they may have taken on more than they should have.

Lisa:  I agree....I wouldn't want to attempt a home purchase without a buyer's agent representing me.

Wayne:  If only more sellers took this to heart!

Jan 17, 2014 08:54 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

They hire professionals for everything else in their life, even an oil change but not when it comes to their largest asset. 

Jan 17, 2014 10:14 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Shar:  Good point....doesn't make much sense!

Jan 17, 2014 10:45 PM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

It's like that commercial with the man about to perform surgery on himself...Really, you make excellent points as always, Sharon!

Jan 18, 2014 01:33 AM
Jeff Fisher
PureWest Real Estate - Whitefish, MT
PUREWEST REAL ESTATE/Christies

Great points and such an important reminder to future sellers.  Hire a full time professional!

Jan 18, 2014 05:27 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Too many folks are penny wise and pound foolish - not a smart mix with your biggest asset!

Jan 18, 2014 05:37 AM
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

Oh yes, we definitely were on the same wave length - sorry I didn't respond sooner, but the pool was calling.  Yes, it is an investment, not a cost.  People don't really save anything by reducing the cost here...in fact they lose.  - Debbie

Jan 18, 2014 09:56 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Julia:   Thank you!

Jeff:  Hopefully new sellers will get the message!

Lisa:  Seems so obvious!

Debbie:  When the pool calls....you must answer the call!  LOL!

Jan 19, 2014 12:16 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Sharon - not sure how I missed this post -- sometimes finding posts is a bit like a scavenger hunt.   As usual, you offer excellent insight.   If only people listened upfront and not after the fact.   Have a good week.  

Jan 19, 2014 11:39 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Michael:  I know what you mean about finding posts....it's not always easy.  I'm glad you found mine and I appreciate (as always) the comment!

Jan 20, 2014 08:59 AM