5 Biggest Mistakes That Slow Down Your Home Sale (And How to Avoid Them)

Selling a home is more than getting a good profit and changing location. It is an emotional and stressful job, and if the process takes longer than expected it can be really overwhelming. Of course, you don’t need to rush things with sales nor you should, but there are ways to avoid long and stressful sales. You can sell it on your own or use a platform for selling, but regardless of that, there are some common mistakes that you should avoid.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

Here’s a simplified guide for sellers that should help you close a deal faster and do it without breaking your nerves.

1.   Overpricing Your Home

Many homeowners get caught up in this mistake. Why is that so? Because they have unrealistic pricing, which results in the home sitting on the market for months. If you overestimate your property’s value it is going to lead to less interest from potential buyers and extended time on listing.

Here’s what you can do to avoid this situation:

• Compare your home with similar others in your area.
• You can use online valuation tools or call a professional to do that.
• Leave the option to adjust the price based on buyer feedback.

2.   Ignoring Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is important because that is the place where buyers are going to get their first impression of the house. If your house exterior is poorly maintained it can ruin your potential sale immediately.

But don’t worry because with some easy adjustments and a little bit of effort you can avoid it:

• Get some mowed lawns, trimmed hedges, or fresh flowers for a simple and arranged landscape.
• If the paint on the front door and exterior walls are not in the best shape, repaint them.
• Pathways and driveways should be clean and well-maintained.

3.   Poor Listing Photos and Descriptions

Buyers usually start their search for a new home online, so you need to make sure that photos and descriptions are presenting your home in the best way possible. If the photos you take are dark or blurry it will affect the attraction of buyers. Also, vague descriptions are a turn-off when it comes to buying a house. Here are some ways how to avoid it:

• Use natural light and take high-resolution images.
• Make sure to point out key features in the description like a new roof, updated kitchen, spacious backyard, etc.
• If you don’t have the knowledge and equipment to take quality photos of your home, you should hiri a professional photographer.

4.   Being Too Rigid With Showings

Buyers usually try to fit house viewings into their tight schedules and if your home is difficult to view, they could easily move to another house they are interested in. If you limit your showing availability this can seriously slow down the selling process. But, this is not such a big issue and you can avoid it:

• Include evenings and weekends in your showing times.
• You can also offer virtual tours.
• Always keep the home in good condition for showing.

5.   Not Considering Multiple Selling Options

Homeowners assume that their only option for selling is listing with a real estate agent, but that isn’t true. There are alternative options which are also a great choice and that can even speed up the whole process.

For example, if you want to sell your house fast, Virginia Beach (VA) is a great location for it, since the real estate market there is offering many opportunities for quick sales through direct buyers.

Then there are sellers in states like Florida, Texas, and North Carolina that have successfully used FSBO (For Sale by Owner, a method of sale without using a real estate agent) platforms. This is a great way of avoiding high commissions and other costs. If you choose the right selling method it can help you close a deal faster. Selling options homeowners should consider are:

• FSBO options if you want to sell your home without an agent.
• Direct home buyers for a faster closing.
• Consider the pros and cons before you decide which selling method is right for you.

Average Time to Sell a Home by State

How long it usually takes to sell a home in different markets depends and varies across different states.

Here are some average selling time periods for the states of Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, and California.

Conclusion

If you just list your home online and hope for the best you are not going to be happy with the results. You need to think through every step you take to sell your home and try to avoid common mistakes.

Don’t overprice your property, make sure your curb appeal is polished, consider evening and weekend showings in your schedule, take high-quality photos of your property, and write a good description with key factors like what is new and remodeled.

Also, consider alternative selling methods before you decide which one you are going to commit and explore different selling strategies.

Our Tiger Lilies are really my total pride and joy!