8 tips for sellers to give more $$$, shorter timeframe

TIPS FOR A SELLER TO DO TO GET A HIGHER PRICE AT AND A QUICKER SALE…

If your home is struggling to catch the eye of a buyer, it could be for an entirely valid reason. Maybe you're stuck in a sluggish market or there's another possibility, too—your home could be sitting on the market because of 8 selling mistakes.

The good news? These basic slip-ups can be easily corrected or avoided. To help you out, here’s how to identify some of the most common mistakes people make in trying to sell their home. Sidestep these flubs to avoid sabotaging your own sale.

Rookie mistake No. 1: Overpricing your home

Your best approach: Listen to your agent’s listing price recommendation, and try not to get too emotional if your agent's suggestion isn't as high as you'd hoped.

Rookie mistake No. 2: Not budging on price

Even if the price is right, you might need to be flexible—especially if you’re in a buyer’s market. So, if you receive an offer that’s below list price, you should at least consider making a counteroffer. After all, receiving $5,000 or $10,000 less for your house than what you wanted is a small concession in the long term.  Consider how much it costs you per year to hold your home, you’d be surprised a counteroffer may just save you $$ in the long run.

Rookie mistake No. 3: Doing a lousy job of cleaning

Let's make this clear: Your home needs to be spotless and smell good. That might mean hiring a professional cleaner to do a deep and thorough cleaning of the entire place. You might want to consider renting a storage locker to make the process of cleaning out the garage, closets, and attic less onerous. But it will likely be worth it, because clutter distract buyers in a big way.  Air freshners in a light scent throughout the home is a good idea as well.

Rookie mistake No. 4: Using crummy photographs

 You can write a beautiful description, but people aren’t initially focusing on the description, they’re looking at the pictures…the listing agent should be taking good ones.

Rookie mistake No. 5: Leaving religious or political belongings in plain sight or your family photos

You never know what type of buyer is going to look at your house, so put away all personal belongings—specifically, family photos or religious or political items, which can be awfully polarizing. You don’t want anything that’s going to distract buyers.”

Rookie mistake No. 6: Lurking around at your own open house

This is a huge mistake for several reasons.

If the buyer knows that the seller is there, they might feel uncomfortable asking the listing agent honest questions about the home, buyers might also feel like they’re intruding if you're present, which is kind of crazy.   People like to open closet doors and look closely at the home without someone hovering over their shoulder.

Rookie mistake No. 7: Making it difficult for agents to show your home

When selling your house, be prepared for little privacy. Translation: You'll need to be flexible when buyers ask to see your home on short notice. To make it easy for buyer’s agents to show the property while you're away (see No. 6), let your agent install a lockbox with keys to the house. And only agents get the combo, not the buyers.  Agents accompany the buyers in the home, because security is the main issue in showing a home.

Rookie mistake No. 8: Leaving pets at home during showings

Some people are simply scared of pets, (yes, even your cute little pug), or they might have allergies that will make them want to steer clear. So don’t just crate your dog or cat during showings; instead, take them with you or drop them off with a neighbor while buyers are viewing the house. And because pets, like humans, tend to accumulate lots of stuff—leashes, collars, toys, water bowls, and the like—make sure you stow their paraphernalia in a cupboard or closet. And do a quick vacuum of pet hair before you go!

BEST THING TO DO:  Hire a real estate you trust…and has had many years of productive listings and sale under their belt.

The Neal Van Hine Team has over 26 years of real estate listing and sales and that’s their full time job, easily reachable with text, cell phone, fax, and email; call them Arlene and Neal Van Hine would love to meet with you; call today for a personal honest appointment 570-269-2319 or email:  teamv@century21.com or look at their website:  poconodreamteam.com