Home Selling Advice

Costly Mistakes to Avoid Before Selling a Home

Costly Mistakes to Avoid Before Selling Your HomeYou've decided to sell your home.  You are ready to accept an offer and sell your home today!  A piece of cake, right?  Not so fast.  

Don't guess on the sale price of your home.

 

Have your real estate agent help determine your home's fair market value.  This is not an appraisal for the purpose of a full loan amount, but an appraisal for the true market value.  There is a difference!  Nothing loses potential buyers faster than an overpriced home.  Then, when you lower the price it makes it look like you are getting desperate to sell.  On the flip side, you don't want to lose money by selling too cheap.  It might get you a fast sale, but you might miss out on several thousand dollars, too.

What Is Your Home Worth?

What is your home worth?If you're thinking of selling your home, you may be fantasizing about the profit you'll reap from the sale or calculating exactly how much you'll need to pay off your current mortgage and have enough left over for a down payment on the next house.

Before your fantasies run amok, you need to realize that, while you can estimate the value of your home in a variety of ways, the true value is only what a buyer will pay for it.  

There are several ways to get a strong idea of how much a buyer will pay for the property in current market conditions.

The Best DIY Tips to Prep Your Home for Sale

It's common for home sellers to make big, sweeping improvements on their homes right before they sell.  But while it's true that buyers may prefer a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, you won't recoup the cost of that major upgrade when selling.

If you're hoping to sell in the next year, it's best to put your money towards small changes that have a big impact.  Here are the six best DIY tips to prep your home before selling.

Pretend to be a buyer and pull up to your house.

Imagine you're seeing your home for the first time.  Make sure it looks clean and inviting by cleaning the sidewalks, and trimming or updating the landscaping.  Pro Tip:  Buyers are naturally drawn to unique front doors, so consider painting yours a complementary fresh color like teal, red or yellow.