Chances are, you probably don’t go through the process of selling a Boston home very often. This being said, there tend to be common mistakes that I see happen frequently with Boston home sellers. Here are 5 that I probably see the most often, so If you’re looking to sell your home, take note!
Neglecting repairs and appearance. No one wants to purchase a home that appears to be poorly maintained. Unless they are searching for a “fixer upper”, buyers don’t want to have a long, expensive to-do list as soon as they move into a home. Inspect your home top to bottom for repairs, big or small. Any repairs that aren’t particularly costly should definitely be completed. If there are larger repairs that need to be done, you will need to decide whether completing them will be a benefit to the selling price of your home; however, keep in mind that all issues must be disclosed to buyers. Also take the time refresh the exterior of your home — repaint the front door, clean or update hardware, plant fresh flowers. Anything that will make your home look more appealing when a buyer drives up.
Unappealing pictures. Since so many start their home search on the internet, the pictures of your home have to make it look its best. It can be a wise investment to hire a professional photograph. A real estate photographer is trained to catch the best angles of your home and has the proper equipment to do so. Great photos can definitely help your home stand out from the pack when a buyer is sifting through a sea of homes on a website.
Pricing your home too high. Your home must be priced in line with those in the area that are comparable to it. If your home is one the high end of those available, you will be turning away potential buyers. It is best to price your home near the median of the available homes in your area. This will allow your home to fall into as many home searches as possible.
Letting your emotions take over. While difficult, you have to try to keep your heart out the sales process of your home. If your realtor recommends that you remove certain taste-specific items from your home, it’s only because he or she wants it to have broad-base appeal. Should a buyer come to you with a low-ball offer, try your best to not be insulted. Much like you’re trying to get the most you can for your home, buyers are trying to get the best deal they can on their new home. Use the low offer as a jumping off point for negotiation. You cannot take anything that happens during the home sale process personally.
For sale by owner: Since you don’t sell homes for a living, it is a good idea to enlist the help of a trained real estate professional. Hiring a realtor who is experienced in your market will be able to assist you in pricing your home correctly to attract buyers. A realtor will also be able to help you prevent all common pitfalls that sellers tend to fall into by giving you an objective point of view. Overall, enlisting a professional will alleviate much of the stress than can come along with selling a home.
These are just a handful of the mistakes that I have encountered with the sellers I’ve worked with over the years. With all that’s involved with selling a home, it’s no surprise that this is the case. As a seasoned Boston real estate agent, I work closely with my clients to help ensure that the sale of their home goes as smoothly as possible. If you have been considering the purchase of Boston real estate, please contact me. I look forward to helping you avoid these mistakes while finding the Boston home of your dreams.
Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Email: pf@pattifine.com
