There are so many mistakes home sellers can avoid! How ready are you to sell your house in Seattle? There are many considerations. Here are a number of the key mistakes to remember before selling your house in Seattle.
#1 – Not Using Available Options
There is the option available to you to choose to sell your house in Seattle yourself instead of listing it with the MLS. This is an often favorable option for many sellers as they find that they can sell it themselves either on the market to traditional buyers (FSBO) or directly to an investor or professional property buyer such as SellaHouseWashington. Result vary depending on the circumstances the sellers finds themselves in, but to realize that you have a number of comparable options is important before calling an agent. Take a look at what we can offer you for your Seattle property! No obligations, fees or commissions, etc.
#2 – Unrealistic Asking Price
One of the more glaring mistakes folks often make is listing their house for too much right off the bat. In an attempt to get as much as possible, many sellers inflate their asking price into something often referred to as a “wish price” – they wish they could get so much… but without being realistic in consideration as to true market value, the property will sit on the market and they may have to reduce the price several times anyway. Beware the many agents who use the strategy of convincing you they can sell it for more than is fair market value in an attempt to squeeze a higher commission from you.
#3 – Failure to Remove Personal Items
If you were touring a house, would you want to see the sellers clutter everywhere like stacks of mail, bulky furniture, and/or unorganized toys? A seller’s personal items in disarray tend to make people feel vary. It is so important for the people who go see your house to imagine themselves living in the space as oppose to feeling they are disturbing someone else’s. We’ve seen that when people are selling their house during a divorce for example, it can be hard to deal with this part of it and understandable so. However, it is best to do what makes the most sense here for the couple or family.
We recommend for any and all sellers to pack all but necessities up until the house is sold, or even better, getting the house partially ‘staged’ to really let buyers see what’s possible for them coming into the space.
#4 – Failure to Account for Key Expenses
What a long list of costs and fees to consider when deciding to list your Seattle house – agent fees plus their commissions, many closing costs, admin expenses, marketing, listing fees, and more… A direct sale to SellaHouseWashington will allow one to forget these added costs.
#5 – Not Making The Needed Repairs
Not doing some things up front will cost you down the road. Once your buyer does an inspection, they will often ask for a number of things to be fixed. You might be suprised by the number of repairs your house needs. Some sellers choose to have their own inspection done before listing so they have an idea of what they are in for. Taking care of the problems up front will save you time and money down the road.
Or simply sell to Sell a House Washington as-is and without having to throw a dime at it.
#6 – Not Disclosing Items Upfront
These items will come back to bite you. Either in the inspection or when the new owner sues you. By law, you have to disclose what you know about the property.
#7 – Not Putting Away Pet & Kid Stuff
While kids and pets are wonderful, not everyone has them. Some people will feel a little uncomfortable if there are chew toys on the couch or legos all over the floor. Remember, the experience is about them. Make the areas feel neutral but welcoming.
#8 – Not Putting Personal Feelings Aside
This is business. If someone comes to view your house and you hear them say they want to pull out the garden to add a deck, don’t get too hung up on it if they plan on paying you the price you want. While you might feel a little sad, this is business, and missing out on a qualified buyer because of something petty can be a huge mistake.
#9 – Hiring A Bad Agent
It can be easy to hire the wrong agent. Some are full of charm and are great at sales. This is great when they are trying to sell your house, but they also use this charm to get you to sign with them. Make sure they aren’t making false promises or are only worried about their commission. You can look at reviews, but it is best to hear first-hand experience from people you know and trust. You simply aren’t going to click with everyone either. You might find the top agent in town can be incredibly stressful to work with.
#10 – Not Calling Sell a House Washington First
Sell a House Washington will provide you with the information you need to help you decide how to sell your house. There is never any pressure to sell or obligation when you give us a call. As professional Seattle investors, we want to work with you to help you make smart decisions about how to sell!