1. Price it wrong. This is number one on the list with good reason. A home properly priced is only half sold. No amount of open houses, full-color ads, glossy fliers, virtual tours or Goodyear blimps will compensate for a price that’s too high.
2. Not be serious about selling. Actions speak louder than words in a buyers’ market. Discretionary sellers should wait for a less competitive environment.
3. Ignore your agent. Attorneys believe if you represent yourself, you have a fool for a client. Doctors don’t self-diagnose. Professionals use professionals. Although many people believe they’re experts on real estate, full-time, career pros usually know what’s best. Listen to them very carefully.
4. Micromanage the marketing. If you sold cookware in college or carpeting in Cranston, it does not qualify you to second-guess your agent. If you had a real estate license years ago, the business has changed immeasurably since then. You can share your concerns and time lines, but leave the details to the listing pro.
5. Reject staging suggestions. Someday shag multi-colored, sculptured carpeting will come back. Same goes for whitewashed cabinets and linoleum flooring. Lots of personal photos and Elvis paintings on black velvet need to go into storage. Now.
6. Let the pets run loose. Do you really want to risk having your cats come into contact with the buyer who’s allergic to cats? Don’t get me wrong. I love dogs, but not everyone does and they should not make an appearance in the middle of a home showing.
7. Talk to the buyers. Life gets lonely at times, but nothing good ever comes from chatting up the buyers. Unless you were trained by the CIA, you run the risk of giving the buyer a negotiating advantage by imparting knowledge that’s none of their business.
8. Sell personal items. Remember, this is a home sale; not a rummage sale.
9. Discount that smell. Does your house smell of pets, baby diapers, curry powder, garlic, fried fish or cigars? Ask a trusted friend to do the sniff test. Don’t let the buyer confuse your luxury condo with a farm house.
10. Dismiss feedback. What do buyers know anyway? They can’t possibly mind the H-1 freeway noise, water leak stains on the garage ceiling, hum from the high-voltage lines and termite mud tubes. What are they thinking?
Based on an article written by Paul Pastore, a RE/MAX agent in Chandler, AZ.
