What Not to do When Selling Your Home...

1. Never under any circumstance should you be present for a showing - Buyer's are searching for their new future home and it's a stressful time for them. They don't need the added pressure of a seller pointing out their favorite features or reminiscing about past experiences they've had in the home. 

Instead: allow the buyer's agent to show your property and wait for the feedback.

 2. Don't leave out your personal items/always de-clutter - You hear it all the time, but it's the truth! We know you love your family, but the majority of buyers have a hard time envisioning their own possessions in a space that's filled with other people's personal items. Also, buyer's can't see themselves growing into this space if there's clutter everywhere. Always try to leave your home in the best showing condition (even if you have pets and kids).

Instead: tuck away your personal items - you'll be able to display them in your next home! And, de-cluttering your home now, will make the moving process much easier for you, come the time to do so.

3. Try to be as flexible as possible with showings - While it may be an inconvenience, remember that you want to sell your home as quickly as possible and for the most money possible and hopefully, you've hired the right realtor (our team!) to make that happen for you! 

How: Don't put too many restrictions on showing times. Buyers aren't always available to view property at the most convenient times but if you want to sell your home, you've got to be somewhat flexible.

4. Don't be close minded/don't ignore your realtor's advice - Not being open to suggestions (de-cluttering, staging, neutral paint, price, etc.) can prolong the process of selling your home. Your realtor (our team!) studies the market & they/we know exactly what's happening in your area. We will have the best suggestions to sell your home quickly and for the most money based on our experience, your location & what's happening in the current market

Instead: Keep an open mind when your realtor is making suggestions, they've got your best interest at heart & know the pulse of the market & what buyers are looking for.

5. Don't lose the sale over something ridiculous - whether your home has been on the market for 24 hours or 24 days, you don't want to turn away a buyer over something minor. (Are they asking for $2K in closing costs? Do they want a drain unclogged?) 

Instead: Think about the big picture.In the grand scheme of things, $2K should rarely (and I saw rarely just because you should never say never!) make or break a deal. Your ultimate goal is to sell your home so you can move on. Don't let minor things get in the way - even if it's a 'principle' thing. 

6. Don't cheap out on repairs - If you've got an offer on the table & have repairs to make, don't skimp otherwise the buyers could potentially walk away from the deal or you'll waste time & money re-repairing things. 

Instead: Hire certified professionals to handle all of your repairs (our team has a vetted vendor list that we will be more than happy to share with you). Should an issue arise, they will take full responsibility to come back out and fix the issues.

7. Try not to get emotional about feedback or low ball offers - you're selling your home for a reason and it will soon become someone else's place of residence. Don't take offense to any feedback that you receive ("why did they convert the garage to a living room?") or low ball offers.

Instead: As difficult as it may be, accept the fact that everyone has a difference of opinion & start getting excited that you'll have the opportunity to start all over in a new place, very soon! When you receive a low ball offer, take that opportunity to negotiate and trust your realtor! They will know exactly what to do in this type of situation.

8. Don't assume your home is worth more than it is - Of course, you want to get the most money for your home, but what you think your home is worth may be completely the opposite of what the market is telling you. Don't go into it thinking "if we ask for $30K more than what it's worth, we're leaving wiggle room to negotiate."

Instead: Trust that your realtor will price it correctly the first time. When you over price your home, you're missing out on buyers who can actually afford your home & are looking for what your home has to offer. Not to mention, you'll be reducing the price of your home 7-14 days after you list it - to keep interest - and the longer your home sits on the market, the worse this will be for your situation. Trust your realtor & what's happening in the current market!