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• SELLERS
• Cape Cod Home Seller's Common Errors

Cape Cod Home Seller's Common Errors

Pricing:  This is a fine balancing act and a Seller should employee the services of an Expert Local Realtor.  You will need to Compare other Homes Sold within the last 6 months and compare other properties still listed on the market. We all want to get the Most for our homes - but we may also be guilty of thinking that our home is worth more than it actually is. Just because You have added more features to the property, or your "Need" to make a certain Profit to move to your next home - cannot justify a higher price.
If your home is not priced competitively, home buyers will prefer larger or better homes in the same price range, increasing your time-to-sell. When your price is later lowered, buyers may be wary because they suspect other reasons the house has remained unsold so long.

For Sale By Owner: You may think that selling a house is easy and does not require the assistance of a real estate agent. Yes, it would be nice not to have to pay the commission but agents work very hard for their money and will bring in many more prospective buyers than you ever could. Buyers tend to subtract the commission from the sale of the house price too - you may end up with less in your pocket for all your work. According to the National Association of Realtors - Homes Sell for more when sold with a Realtor than when Home owners sell their house on their own!

Pre-Inspection:  Buyers Always Appreciate that a Seller has gone ahead and had their home professionally inspected. Most times there will be small issues with the house that the Seller can address and feel confident that no issues will come up during a Buyers Inspection. If a house has any major issue - it has to be disclosed and in many cases, these issues have been or can be factored into the home's listing price.

Home is Too Cluttered:  Once you have decided to Sell your home, you need to prepare it for a new Buyer. Start packing all your uneccessary personal Items. Buyers like to see a home with very little clutter and even less personal Items such as photos etc ... When the house is clutter free - the potential Buyer can Visualize their own furniture in the home and see themselves living there. If the house cannot be totally cleared out, remove as much clutter as possible. A Seller who refuses to make an effort will suffer from lower offers and longer market time!

Clean your House:  No one wants to pay top dollar for someone else's Dirt! Clean your house - including the windows.  Paint some walls and have your kitchens and bathrooms sparkle! Clean or replace old carpets & Dog Beds and make sure your home smells fresh. Buying a home is an emotional decision and Buyers will buy the home that makes them most Comfortable. Clean- bright & Spacious homes will sell first!

Stage It: You may have lived in your home for years and it feels comfortable to you - but having a 3rd party view your house and rearrange furniture for its best potential can actually help you sell your home for more money. Many homeowners who want to move do not want to spend any more money on a home that they are going to sell. Big Mistake. Furniture placement, New carpet and a Fresh coat of paint can go a long way toward making the property more marketable.  

Listing With a Relative/Friend: That Old saying "Don't mix business with Family" has some truth to it. Just because your relative is a real estate agent, does not mean he/she is qualified to sell your house. You need a Professional full time Agent with a strong Sales record.

Taking The Sale Personally: Even though it is your home that is for sale, it is very important not to get emotional. If an offer comes in low, do not get offended and understand that it is part of the negotiating process. Real Estate Agents understand that selling your Home can be a very emotional time. But, try to keep as much emotion out of it as possible. It is emotional for Buyers also - and a Good Real Estate Agent can help defuse potential problems. If emotions run too high it can hurt the sale of your home. Be professional and keep in mind that the sale is a business transaction.

Be Honest: It is very important that you are up front with buyers and your Agent about the conditions of your home. If there is a basement leak, reveal that and any other significant problems that you are aware of. You can leave your house to the new owners with a clean conscious and not worry about any possibility of a future Lawsuit.

No Curb Appeal: First impressions are critical when selling a home so make sure that bushes are trimmed and toys are picked up from the front yard. Your home from the outside needs to be very welcoming. A Fresh coat of Paint on the front door and some pleasing plants on your steps and even a shiny new mail box will help entice Buyers.

Listen to Your Agent:  Maybe this should be at the top of the list!  Once you hire an Agent - An Expert who sells homes for a Living, Listen to their advice! You are paying good money for such advice.  A skilled, knowledgeable agent should be able to explain to you exactly why your home needs to be priced at a certain level - compared to recent listings and sales of homes similar to yours. Experienced agents also know exactly what the current pool of buyers are looking for in relation to particular styles and price ranges of properties. A skilled agent can recommend changes that will enhance the salability of your home, thus increasing the price - and/or decreasing the length of time before a sale.

Kick Back and Watch some TV: Yes, this is your assignment ! You may find it very helpful to watch HGTV and pick up tips and hints on how to prepare your home for sale.

Contact us to Sell your Home.