Most people think they know what selling a home is all about, but in this article, we’ll discuss 5 home selling myths. It all seems so simple: just list it on an MLS service and watch the buyers come rolling in.
In truth, selling can be complicated and stressful. It’s easy to lose money, make incorrect assumptions about how much you’ll get for your home, or create more problems for yourself. Understanding the realities of home selling is the best way to avoid headaches.
You have every right to live in your home while you’re selling it. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. You’ll have to keep the place squeaky-clean and clutter-free at all times. You’ll need to vacate the home every time your agent arrives to show it, as buyers seldom want to meet with sellers. And every personal item has to go. Buyers need to picture themselves living in the home.
They can’t do that if they’re constantly tripping over your stuff or seeing your wedding photos and kids all over the walls.
Even if you do everything right, living in the home can create problems. Buyers will always wonder whether you’ll vacate quickly enough for them to execute their own moving timelines.
Most sellers only earn back 60% to 70% of what they spend on home repairs or renovations. Repairing your home just to sell it could mean losing a great deal of money. It’s unlikely the market will bear any attempt to tack repairs onto the asking price of your home. Remember, those prices are impacted by your neighborhood, the current market, and your home’s sale price history. Buyers simply do not care that you recently replaced the roof or renovated the
bathroom.
In fact, many buyers regard those repairs as a moral obligation on your part, even though you have every right to sell your home as-is.
Homes that sit on the market for a long period of time tend to make buyers suspicious. They start to feel that there must be something wrong with the home if nobody wants it. Some buyers will also reason that the amount of time the home has been sitting on the market probably means you’re desperate to sell. This could inspire them to be a lot more hard-nosed in their negotiations, making it harder to seal the deal.
Some real estate agents are fantastic at what they do, going out of their way to market each property to the fullest of their abilities.
Others may have too many clients to handle, and simply list the property on the MLS system, plop a sign in your front yard, and hope for the best.
If you do business with a realtor, touch base with them on a regular basis to find out what they are doing to market your property. If you haven’t hired one yet, ask them what kind of advertising they anticipate conducting on your behalf.
You might want to get involved in the marketing yourself by placing your property on Craigslist or other sites where it might be found.
In a seller’s market, the home often does sell for the asking price. However, in a buyer’s market the home could sell for far less than anticipated or the sale could take longer. When this happens, your profits could be reduced significantly, because you have to continue paying upkeep on the home and because of all the time and effort you put into staging the home, marketing it, and negotiating the sale.
In some cases, turning to a reputable investor and selling the home as-is may be your best bet. You’ll get a cash offer and won’t have to do anything else to the home, which means you won’t have to worry about replacing the roof or fixing your foundation. And you get the time and flexibility you need to pack up and move at your pace.
It’s not always the right move…but sometimes avoiding the traditional route helps you come out ahead.
Want to sell your Spokane house fast with one phone call?
It’s easy. Call us at 206-231-5864 or fill out the form to get more information.
Selling a property in today’s market can be confusing. Connect with us or submit your info below and we’ll help guide you through your options.
We buy houses in ANY CONDITION. There are no commissions or fees and no obligation whatsoever. Start below by giving us a bit of information about your property…
12918 Mukilteo Speedway C23 #105
Lynnwood, WA 98087
206-681-2784
acquisitions@iwillbuyhouse.com
We are a local real estate solutions and investment business that specializes in helping homeowners get rid of burdensome houses fast. We are investors and problem solvers who can buy your house fast with a fair all cash offer.
Simply Call Us 206-681-2784 Or Fill in The Form Below For Your No Obligation “As-Is” Cash Offer!