How to Stop Your Home Sale in Its Tracks

Selling your home is an exciting process, especially when you're oh-so-close to finalizing the sale. Although there may be a hundred and one reasons why a buyer will love your house, there are unfortunately just as many ways that a seller can self-sabotage opportunities to seal the deal — or even receive an initial offer. How can you accidentally stop a home sale in its tracks? Here are a few of the common ways that sellers can upend their own home sale.

• Pricing the Property Incorrectly
  Every seller believes that their home is worth every penny of the listing price. Sadly, this doesn't always equate to what the appraisal value says or what the buyer is willing to offer. Underpricing can detract just as many buyers as overpricing. Overpriced homes may sit on the market while underpriced homes could make buyers wonder what problems are driving the price down.
• Creating a Poor Listing
  The price isn't the only consideration buyers weigh when looking at your home online. The listing itself needs to be up to par if you want to draw in qualified and motivated buyers. One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is not using high-quality photographs to showcase the home. Outdated, poor photography coupled with a less than compelling description could make a potential buyer look elsewhere.
• Neglecting the Exterior
  The importance of curb appeal cannot be understated. The front of the home is the first and last thing buyers will view when touring the property which means it's imperative that you make a fantastic impression. Investing in landscaping as well as enhancing spaces like the front porch, cleaning up the curbside, and maximizing the rear entertaining area will leave a lasting impression. For assistance with the green spaces, consider hiring a landscaping crew to trim and tidy the area up each week.
• Forgetting to Declutter
  Even if you're selling your home under a tight timeline, you need to put extra effort into preparing for the showing. Too much clutter or lack of organization can make the home seem cramped. Leaving out personal items such as family photographs, awards, or holiday décor may lend too much personality to the home. Remember, buyers need to see themselves in the home, not envision who currently lives there.
• Choosing Not to Stage
  While there are many instances in which showing a vacant home is an excellent and effective idea, many real estate agents recommend having a professional staging company prepare your home for showings. Their experience is invaluable, as they'll identify the best ways to showcase your home to a diverse audience of buyers.
• Overlooking Little Problems
  Selling a home is quite a feat and there are many responsibilities to juggle. Unfortunately, forgetting to address the smaller issues of a home can actually create larger problems. Burned-out light bulbs, missing electrical covers, broken blinds, distracting smells, and dirty surfaces can immediately make your home lose its charm. Be thorough in your preparations by having your agent complete a walkthrough with a checklist and consider hiring a cleaning company to give the space a quick clean each week.
• Hiding Major Problems
  What's worse than forgetting to fix small issues? Trying to hide major issues. You should always be honest when it comes to major problems in the house, especially those that impact the health and safety of the new owners. Not only will these issues likely be uncovered in the inspection, but failing to disclose them could land you in serious trouble.
• Being Stubborn During Negotiations
  Obviously, every seller wants their asking price and every buyer wants to secure a great deal. While there are many requests from each side that are unreasonable, a seller must be willing to make concessions to successfully close the sale. From replacing an old roof to paying for some closing costs, be willing to negotiate when selling your home.

Selling your home doesn't need to be a frustrating or drawn-out process. By acknowledging the pitfalls that trap other sellers, you can avoid stopping your home sale in its tracks.

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