These Mistakes Can Sabotage Your Home Sale

With something as personally and financially important as selling your home, you want to do everything in your power to make sure the process is seamless! Sure, there are always unforeseeable issues that can arise, but some of the most common problems are self-inflicted! The goal of this post is to warn current and future sellers about some of the easily-avoidable ways that they can sabotage their own sale.

Insisting on a Sky-High Price

Consciously or not, sellers often place a premium on their home's value due to personal attachment; however, remember that the listing price must always be supported by neighborhood comps, home features, and other tangible characteristics. You should listen to your real estate agent and allow them to set an appropriate, objective listing price. Even if your home is located in a seller's market, there is no excuse for setting your listing price significantly above what is reasonable in an attempt to negotiate. Doing so will result in fewer buyers ever even seeing the listing due to it falling outside their budget, reducing competition for the home.

Major DIY Home Repairs/Projects

If you're a professional craftsperson or made a DIY bookshelf, then don't worry, this isn't about you! This problem refers to when homeowners who are lacking in required knowledge attempt a major project, such as plumbing or electrical work. At best, these DIYers run the risk of failing to meet code, forcing them to have the work redone before selling; at worst, they risk causing a future electrical fire or flood.

Lying or Withholding Information

Repeat after me: I will be honest with the buyers. No one will fault you for not mentioning a leaky faucet, but withholding information about fire damage, an expensive repair, or any other major issue is a bad idea for a couple of reasons. First, you risk being caught in the lie by the home inspector, which may very well sabotage the entire sale (hence this issue being in this post). Second, it is illegal to withhold information during a home sale in some areas, opening you up to the possibility of being sued at a later date. Not worth it!

You Made the Buyer Feel Awkward

This is perhaps the least obvious, but most understandable way that sellers hurt their sale. When buyers are walking through the house, avoid the urge to follow them around and/or ask them questions! It makes them feel awkward, which makes them less likely to want to work with you to buy your home. Luckily, there is a sure-fire way to solve this problem: vacate the home while buyers are present! Trust your real estate agent to handle the walkthrough; after all, that's why you hired them!

The above issues are just some of the ways that sellers can hurt their chances of selling their home. If you'd like to read more about this topic, check out this article from Realtor.com!