If you’re selling your home, you probably know the Orlando market is a very active real estate market, which means you’ll have to make your property stand out. Because there are many choices in the area, like the new development at The Pointe at Hunter’s Creek, new construction and existing home sales are plentiful. Since the majority of home buyers begin their search on the internet, you’ve got to set your home apart from the competition.
It’s imperative that you take a step back and assess your property fairly. This can be done by your listing and buyer’s agent, who will give you a professional opinion about what needs to be done to get your home to attract attention. It’s more than likely you won’t see the forest for the trees, because you live in the home. However, this is a critical part of the selling process.
Getting Your Home in Salable Condition
Where some home sellers go wrong is to believe their properties only need a little work here and there. After all, there’s no need to spend a lot of money because it won’t be their home for much longer. That’s a sure way to sabotage your own selling efforts–you’ve got to approach your property as a buyer will and make any necessary changes.
“Trying to sell your home by yourself is sheer madness. Many people think that it’s easily doable because the market is hot and you can save on the commission. Despite the lure of not having to pay an agent a commission, you need the expertise and know-how of a professional, who can help you navigate the stacks of paperwork, provide priceless neighborhood knowledge – and negotiate on your behalf.” —Time Magazine
In today’s market, buyers generally prefer move-in ready homes. That means getting your home in salable condition, which not only includes a deep cleaning from top to bottom, but also, fixing anything and everything that’s broken, decluttering as much as possible, and depersonalizing each and every room. The goal is to transform your property into a model home, highlighting the best selling features and making it welcome and open.
Ways to Homeowners Sabotage their Sales
There are certainly sellers who take this to heart and go the extra mile to ensure their properties are in excellent, salable condition. However, even though they’ve done the hard work to get it looking just right, they often give into certain behaviors which sabotage their sales. If you want to sell your home and for the best price, don’t do the following:
- Be unwilling to negotiate price, or, contingencies. Even if your home is spotless and everything is in perfect working order, buyers will probably still try and get the best deal they can, which is what you’d do if you were buying a home. Be willing to negotiate and to listen to your listing agent.
- Shadow potential buyers touring the home. You might think this is necessary, because you will be right there to answer any questions. Buyers, however, usually feel uncomfortable with someone following them about. Don’t tag along because you’ll do more harm than good.
- Give into emotional attachment. It might be your home, but it won’t be for long. Sure, you’ve put a lot of work into the property and are proud of those improvements, which might be what’s generating interest. Be will to let go and look forward to a new chapter in your life.
- Have no actionable moving plan. This is something that shouldn’t be a problem, but certainly can be and that’s completely unnecessary. If you don’t have an actionable moving plan, you might have to delay the closing date, which could ruin the deal.
Another way homeowners sabotage their sales is trying to micromanage their professional listing agent. This is very counterproductive and should be totally avoided so you can sell your home as quickly as possible and for the most money.