If you are considering selling your
St. Louis or St. Charles County, Missouri home, you’ve probably gotten a lot of
advice on things that you SHOULD do to sell your home. In fact, we’ve got lots
of tried and true tips right here in this blog. Just type the subject you are
looking for into the search bar. However, there are some things you should
definitely NOT do when listing a home for sale. Here’s our short list.
What NOT To Do When Selling A Home
1. Do NOT Neglect Necessary Repairs
Homebuyers will definitely notice
any broken or damaged parts of a home that are in plain view. Even small items
like a broken cabinet hinge or doorknob may work against you because it might
suggest the current owners haven’t taken good care of the property. Potential
buyers may also use needed repairs as a way to negotiate a lower price for the
home.
Though it may be costly to take on
the minor and major repairs your house needs before listing it, it will
increase the chances of the home selling in a timely manner.
And while it may seem expensive to
take on these fixes, it’s generally more expensive not to. Homes sitting on the
market cost sellers in both time spent on the market and ultimate sale price.
Even if nothing is obviously wrong, some basic maintenance and simple home
repairs before listing can go a long way.
2. Do NOT Over-Improve
While preparing a home for sale,
it’s a good return on investment to update things to be as current as possible.
For example, updating old light fixtures or appliances are great ideas. However
it’s important not to over-improve a home or over-customize a space to very
specific tastes. For example, not everyone needs a trophy room, gun room, or music room nor does everyone likes bright or intense colors in their home.
Instead, neutralize the home for
sale as much as possible. If you are repainting before the sale choose light,
neutral colors. Packing away as many of your personal items is also
recommended. This lets buyers imaging themselves living in the home. So there
is no need to go above and beyond with home improvements, as you may actually
lose money doing so.
3. Do NOT Overprice a Home For Sale
We understand the idea of wanting
to “test the market”, but overpricing a home for sale is not the best way to do
it. In fact it can backfire and cause your listing to lose momentum and
languish on the market for months while you continue to pay the mortgage. Eventually
you may have to lower the price more than what the home would have sold for if
you priced it correctly to begin with.
We have some great information
about The Dangers of Overpricing Your Home that you should check out.
4. Do NOT Attend Home Showings
It would be nice to be a fly on the
wall to see what goes on every time an agent shows your home. But do NOT be a
literal wall fly and hang around at home showings! Buyers want to imagine
themselves in your space, not be confronted by you in your space. Take the
family out or at least go sit in the car during the home showing. Homebuyers
want to be able to look around freely without the homeowner looming over their
shoulder. Don’t make it awkward for them.
5. Do NOT Go It Alone
Unless you are well versed in title
law, real estate contracts and marketing do NOT go it alone! Knowing how to
sell a home quickly for a fair price takes years of experience to master. Even
then it can be a bit tricky without the right team as there are at least 80 tasks Realtors perform for sellers.
The Boehmer Team offers no
obligation meetings to explain the process, the timelines, costs and options
that you have when selling your home. Contact The Boehmer Team to answer your
questions about listing a home for sale.
