Selling a house, especially for the first time, is a tricky business. You want to make sure that you are getting the most that you can for your property, but you also know that asking for too much right off the bat can deter buyers and leave your house sitting on the market for too long. Even if you have complete confidence in the real estate agent that you have hired, there are still so many ways in which the sale of a house can go wrong.
The more common mistakes when it comes to selling a house might not be as obvious to first-time sellers as you might imagine. Here are a few things that you should avoid doing when you are getting ready to begin the process of selling your house.
Don’t Leave Clutter About
Before your house ever hits the market, you need to take proactive measures to make sure that the entire property will be as appealing to potential buyers as you can make it. This process should always begin with de-cluttering the entirety of your house. Nothing can make a buyer disinterested quite like a house that is untidy. Too many items on the walls and on shelves makes the rooms in your home feel small and cramped.
Most buyers want the rooms they see to be open and big. Even if your house is a bit on the smaller side, you should still look to provide those who come to view it with as blank a canvas as possible. This will make it easier for them to envision moving into the house with their own furniture and personal effects.
Because the de-cluttering process will most likely leave you with more boxes and furniture than you can manage to store in your attic or basement, it will most likely be necessary to rent a StorageArea unit for your things to live until you are able to move them into your new house. Don’t forget to take any family photos and the like off the walls and shelves as well. Such things can also make it tough for potential buyers to see a house as their own.
Don’t Leave Little Repairs Undone
Potential buyers will be viewing your house with critical eyes. Remember that they are trying to decide if the property would be a good fit for their own family to move into. The last thing you want to do is leave multiple little repairs undone. No one will be attracted by the thought of having to complete a large number of repairs themselves after they have paid a substantial amount of money for a property.
Start by making sure that your appliances are all in working order. If any are beyond repair, you should look into replacing them entirely. Failing to do so might result in the necessity of knocking a bit off your asking price. Cabinets, faucets, and drains should all be working well too as potential buyers will no doubt check on such things when they tour the property.