Selling a home is a complicated and emotional process that requires a lot of preparation. With so much to do, it’s easy for home sellers to make a few missteps along the way. To better help you prepare your home for a smooth sale, here are the most common mistakes home sellers make and how to avoid them.
Not Properly Staging Your Home
First impressions are everything in real estate. Failing to rearrange furniture, depersonalize spaces, or remove clutter can quickly turn buyers away. If the home is in disarray, it can be difficult for potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the space. A crowded and cluttered room can also make the home feel smaller than it is.
A properly staged home—that is one with neutral coloring and decor, optimized furniture placement, and overall cleanliness—can make a home feel brand-new, even if you haven’t invested in any upgrades.
Don’t know where to begin? Here’s a checklist for some easy-to-achieve staging ideas:
- Less is more: Remove any furniture that blocks pathways and entryways and makes rooms feel cramped.
- Add carefully placed accents: Place decorative items like throw pillows, fresh flowers, or a stylish rug to add warmth and personality without overwhelming the space.
- Remove family photos: Family photos remind homebuyers that this is someone else’s home and limit a buyer’s ability to imagine the home as theirs. Remove any personal items to give the home a fresh start.
- Keep colors simple: Crazy bright colors will not appeal to every buyer so stick with more neutral colors.
Setting an Unrealistic Asking Price
Naturally, you’ll want to sell your home for the best price possible, but you’ll need to be realistic about current market conditions. Your home’s value depends on a multitude of factors including demand for similar property types, the condition of your home, the number of rooms, the neighborhood you live in, and current borrowing costs.
Even if your home is in a desirable neighborhood with sought-after features, selling in a buyer’s market will require competitive pricing to stand out. Conversely, in a seller’s market, you’ll have more flexibility to price your home higher, as increased demand can drive offers.
Working with a knowledgeable real estate agent will help you determine a fair and reasonable asking price. Local real estate agents understand the unique conditions of your specific market and can give an estimate of the best price range for your home based on current trends, comparable properties, and buyer demand.
If you want to get a better understanding of how real estate pricing works, read up on your local market conditions. Local real estate boards typically release monthly statistics that show the level of demand in your area, the number of new listings, the average prices, and the months of inventory. All of this information can be useful in understanding how to price your home competitively and fairly.
Using Poor Quality Photos
Depending on where you live, thousands of new listings can hit the market in a single month. With so many choices, homebuyers often rule out any listings with poor-quality photos, which could result in your home sitting on the market a lot longer than it needs to.
Investing in high-quality photos also gives homebuyers who aren’t able to visit in person a chance to see a realistic portrayal of the listing. Although it might sound unconventional, people do buy homes without having ever stepped foot in them.
Since the pandemic popularized virtual home tours, more buyers are making offers sight unseen. In 2022, CNBC reported that nearly half of surveyed buyers had made an offer on a home without seeing it in person. Additionally, the National Association of Realtors found that 43% of buyers started their search online in 2024, emphasizing the need for a strong virtual representation of your home.
Skipping Upgrades and Renovations
A problem-free home is one of the best ways to attract potential buyers. Add in some brand-new upgrades and fixtures and you have a winning combination that can make your home stand out and appeal to even more buyers.
While it may feel counterintuitive to invest in a home you’re planning to sell, a move-in-ready property that requires no major renovations can significantly attract buyers. Jon Howard, a mortgage broker at Lucid Lending, recently shared with Better Homes & Gardens that a key trend for 2025 will be the growing demand for move-in ready and low-maintenance homes, especially for first-time buyers.
“Many in the millennial generation, the largest cohort of homebuyers, are in their prime purchasing years,” said Howard. “Studies show they tend to prioritize convenience and lifestyle, leading them to prefer move-in ready homes that align with busy work schedules and family commitments.”
Ready to start planning for the 2025 real estate market? We’re here to help! Give us a call today to speak to a local real estate agent.
