Selling Your Home? 5 Things You Should Never Do

When you prepare to put your home on the market, you hope that everything will go the way you imagine and that is your home will sell for over listing price the very first day it goes on the market.
The reality isn't so rosy. The market may slow down. Your home may get few showings or no offers.

You may have to lower your list price. Or, your home may not sell at all because you made a big mistake.

So if you're thinking of doing any of the following five no-no's, stop yourself right now.


Don't hire the first REALTOR® you meet. Selling your home is one of the largest transactions you'll ever have, so why wouldn't you interview several applicants to help you? You can ask friends and family for referrals, but there are several questions you should ask. Make sure the agents you interview are experienced selling homes in your neighborhood and the type of home you want to sell. To get the listing, potential agents may employ a number of strategies, including suggesting or agreeing with you to list a high price for your home. Don't fall for it. Choose the agent who is straight with you, about the market and about your home.

Don't ignore the market. Every market is different and those differences can impact the sales price of your home, the number of days your home spends on the market, and whether your home sells or not. You have to face the reality of market conditions to influence the success of your home's sale. If home prices are going up, you'll do well, but it will be more expensive to purchase your next home, unless you move to a less expensive market or home.

And if prices are going down, you may not net what you were hoping for, but your next purchase may be a bargain, if you stay in the same area.


Don't hide problems the home may have. If you've had a major water leak or had your foundation fixed, you need to disclose that in a formal seller's disclosure form for all potential buyers to see. While it may be tempting to check the I-don't-know box, remember that any lie can come undone. You don't want to face legal problems because you tried to hide the truth. And if your buyer wants to know more, you can show the receipts for what you did to fix the problem.

Don't overprice the home. When your home is overpriced, it's underdressed for the party. Everyone notices that it doesn't quite fit in. Buyers who can afford your home quickly notice that your home doesn't quite measure up to others in the same price range. Buyers who could afford your home if it were priced correctly are unlikely to make offers because they'll be searching in a different price range.

Don't ignore your agent's advice. A real estate agent is a professional. When she or he tells you that you'll get a better offer more quickly if you'll declutter, stage your home, make certain updates or repairs, it's a proven truth. Buyers are more negative when they see homes that need work, and tend to make offers or withhold offers based on their feelings.
If your agent showed you a comparable market analysis, he or she may have suggested a listing range to price your home. If you go over that, you're risking a negative response from the marketplace, long days on the market, and probable price reductions.

Do things right from the beginning and you'll have a smoother, easier, and more profitable transaction.

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Selling Your Home? Here are some Suggested Repairs

Are you thinking about listing your home for sale? Before you do, take a good, hard look around and see what you need to change. Most homes need a little bit of TLC before they are ready to go to the market. Spending some time sprucing up yours will improve its appeal and even drive up the selling price. Here are some areas where it makes sense to spend a little time and effort as you prepare your home for the market.

Add a Coat of Paint

You'd be surprised how dingy your paint is looking. When you start to paint over it, you will realize how badly you needed to tackle this job. A new coat of paint makes the home look fresh and new, and adding a neutral color helps give your home a more universal appeal. Also, painting gives you the chance to address cracks in the paint or drywall that can make buyers wonder if the house is in good repair.

As you paint, keep these tips in mind:

• Paint the ceiling: The ceiling needs to be painted along with the rest of the home. You are probably used to looking at your cleaning and no longer notice the grease spots and dust, but they are there. Buyers will notice, so give it a fresh coat of paint.
• Remove or paint over wallpaper: Even if your wallpaper is tasteful and modern, your buyers don't want it. They want their own look for the home. Remove the wallpaper, if you have the time to do so, and paint the wall. Sometimes you can get by with painting over wallpaper, if it is not peeling, to freshen up the look of your space.
• Paint wood paneling: No matter how much you like it, wood paneling is simply not in fashion. Coat it with primer, then paint it a neutral color to improve your home's salability. Remember that you can paint over fake wood paneling, too, with the right primer.

 Upgrade Kitchens and Bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. Buyers can overlook many things, but if the kitchen is outdated and the bathroom is ugly, they immediately see dollar signs as they consider the cost of these upgrades, and your home will lose potential value.

According to Zillow, mid-range bathroom remodels will bring back over 100 percent of the investment cost when you sell the house, while kitchen remodels will bring 80 to 90 percent, depending on the extent of the remodel. Yes, these improvements will be more costly than throwing on some new paint, but they will pay for themselves when you go to sell the property.

So what should you tackle? Consider these tasks:

• Updating cabinets: Cabinets that are outdated don't have to be scrapped completely. If the shape and design is fine, consider resurfacing or repainting. Then upgrade the hardware for a more modern look.
• Countertops: Affordable laminates can update outdated countertops, or you can opt to resurface and event paint these to make them look like marble without the high cost of replacement.
• Lighting: Swapping out an outdated lighting fixture for something more modern will brighten up the space and improve the overall ambiance.
• Sinks and faucets: Again, a modern sink and faucet will do wonders for these spaces, and these do not have to cost much.
• Flooring: If the flooring is broken, stained or outdated, a simple laminate, which you may be able to lay yourself, can make a world of difference.

Spend Some Time Outside

Finally, take your home repairs outside. Curb appeal means the difference between drive-by buyers and buyers who stop and take a closer look. What needs to be upgraded in your home's exterior? Consider these things:

• Replace or repair the roof
• Improve the look of driveways and sidewalks
• Add flowers or potted plants
• Paint the exterior
• Clean windows
• Upgrade doors
• Replace hardware

As you are looking, don't forget to trim up your bushes and cut the grass. A fresh layer of mulch in your gardens will do wonders as well to the overall look of your home.

Remember, as you consider the home repairs to make before selling, you have to think like a buyer. What will the buyer notice, and what will cause them to choose a different home? Make these changes, and enjoy a home that sells quickly and for a better value.