5 Mistakes That Private Sellers Make

Selling your home privately can be exciting. For one, you get to save thousands of dollars on commission.

The experience you’ve gained at the end of the sale can also be invaluable. But you don’t always have to make mistakes to learn things; sometimes it’s good to learn from others’ mistakes. Here are five things to remember if you are planning to sell your house privately:

Overpricing:This is one of the most common mistakes people make. We often tend to overprice our homes because of emotional attachment. Sometimes, people want to leave room for negotiation, but end up driving away potential buyers. Unlike the situations that prevailed a few decades ago, buyers today are savvy. All it takes is a few hours of research on the internet to know about the pricing in an area. To make sure that your house doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb, make sure you spend the time learning how and at what price the properties in the area are selling. A comparative analysis can help you price your house correctly.

Not Taking Care of Presentation:As a seller, you have to help potential buyers imagine themselves living in the house. While you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars hiring a professional home stager, it helps to spend time and money on a few basic things like applying a fresh coat of paint, de-cluttering, and mowing the lawn. Make sure everything is clean, tidy and in its place before you invite people for viewing.

Being Emotionally Attached to the House:People often find it difficult to detach themselves emotionally from their house. Personal photographs and memorabilia should be removed before inviting buyers into the house. Paint your house in neutral colors and call a friend for feedback on the things that you need to change. Moreover, if a prospective buyer offers feedback, try not take it personally.

Not Seeking Professional Help:You don’t have to hire a real estate agent to sell your house. There are several professionals offering agent-assisted-sales. For example, PropertyNow offers to list your home on agent-only websites like realestate.com.au and domain.com.au. For a flat fee, they can help you write a description on these sites, monitor phone and email inquiries, offer professional signage, printable brochures, store inquiries, and even help during the negotiation process.

Not Maximising Exposure:You don’t have to rely only on signage boards to advertise a sale. There are several avenues you can explore to increase exposure and get more people interested in your home. For example, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can be leveraged. You can distribute flyers and even print advertisements with local media. What mistakes have you made while selling your home? Share your stories with us!

The Author offers an agent assisted sale service wherein he helps homeowners sell their homes privately. To know how to sell your house, visit www.propertynow.com.au.

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