With plenty of prospective buyers ready to take their next step on the property ladder this spring, you will need to ensure that your home is appealing and free of off-putting features.
Common mistakes made by sellers can have an impact on how long a property is on the market and its eventual sale price. Therefore, a smooth home selling process starts with avoiding these blunders.
Below, we take a look at the top five common mistakes that property sellers make and how they can be avoided…
Instructing the wrong agent
The estate agent that you appoint can make or break your home selling experience, so you will need to choose wisely. An experienced agent will be able to guide you through every step of process, will have good communication and negotiation skills, and most importantly, will have your best interests at heart.
In order to make a solid choice, consider asking your potential agent their marketing plan for your home, how often they plan to communicate with you and if they have any current listings that might compete with yours. Once you’ve found a reputable agent, it will be easier to avoid other mistakes on this list.
Ignoring repairs that need doing
Most potential buyers aren’t looking for a project, and a long list of maintenance issues can be a huge turn off. While it can be costly to take on repairs before listing your home, even the smallest things – like a crack in the ceiling – can give buyers the impression that the property is not well looked after.
Prioritising the most glaring issues – especially those that are likely to pop up during a viewing– can help to prevent situations such as this. After all, a few minor improvements can make a major difference in the eyes of potential buyers.
Failing to prepare
One of the biggest challenges of selling your home is presenting it to prospective buyers. Generally speaking, the cleaner, less cluttered and more well-decorated your property is, the more appealing it will be.
Buyers need to be able to visualise themselves living in the home, but this can be difficult if you have personal items and clutter lying around. So, it’s advisable to clear away any distracting personal items and clutter.
Using poor quality photos
The images attached to your listing are often the first glimpse of your home for would-be buyers. Too few pictures, or bad pictures, are a major turn-off, and will likely result in buyers losing interest quickly.
The most common mistakes in this area are photos that are too dark and pictures that show clutter. These can be rectified by ensuring all lights are turned on natural light is in the room, as well as making sure your home is fully cleared before taking any pictures.
It’s worth considering a professional photographer to take photos that highlight your home’s best-selling features. Of course, with your agent’s guidance, you can choose the most appealing pictures for listing.
Setting an unrealistic asking price
Every seller wants to get the most for their property, but the price you want and what the market will pay can be two very different things. The most important factor that dictates your asking price is often what other homes on your street have sold for. Other factors include location, market strength, local demand and the home’s condition.
Be careful, though, as an overpriced home can be a turn-off to prospective buyers, while a home that is priced very low could mean that you are selling your property short. Luckily, your agent will be able to guide you with setting a realistic price and increasing your chances of getting favourable offers.
Recently, we also discussed the top things that can devalue a home before selling. If you’re looking to put your property on the market soon, then taking these tips into consideration can help you to achieve a quick and easy sale.
For more information on selling a property in North London, East London, Hertfordshire, Essex and the surrounding areas, contact your local Kings Group branch today.
If you’re eager to see how much your property could be worth on the current market, you can request a free instant online valuation here.
