Selling your home doesn’t have to be full of missteps and mistakes. Learn from these common mistakes and avoid problems from the moment you put up that For Sale sign!

Let’s start with four DON’Ts. Here are four things NOT do when you put your home up for sale:

1. DON’T Get Emotional.

Maybe you’ve lived in your house for 25 years and raised your kids there.
Maybe you’re moving for a reason that’s inherently emotional or difficult.
Maybe you just feel the heightened stress of selling a home and let your
emotions into the mix. Do your best to put your emotions on the shelf and
be as pragmatic as possible about selling your home.

2. DON’T Set an Unrealistic Price.

Pricing your home is one of the first, and most important, decisions you’ll
make when listing your home for sale. If you get too caught up in the “what-ifs,” you may set your sights too high and set an unrealistic price. This will mean your home sits on the market longer and can cost more money in the long-run.

3. DON’T Hide Major Problems.

A good home inspector will find out all of the issues with your home anyway.
Not being forthcoming about known issues will slow the whole process
down. You don’t want to have an offer on the table that doesn’t work out
because you’ve failed to disclose something or because inspection
uncovered something huge.

4. DON’T Wait Until the Last Minute.

There are numerous documents you’ll need to have in hand before you can
list and sell your home. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your ducks in a
row. Everything will go faster and smoother if you have everything you need.

Here are some DOs. Not doing these are huge mistakes that home sellers make all of the time.

5. DO Film Video Walk-Throughs.

Especially as virtual home buying becomes increasingly popular, your home
will get more views and interaction if you have video walk-throughs. Video
tours can usually be filmed by someone who works with your real estate
agent. These are compelling and add value to your listing.

6. DO Make Minor Repairs.

If you’ve lived in your home a long time (or even if you haven’t), you may
have learned to live with squeaky hinges or broken railing. Homebuyers will
be turned off by these things, and it’s a lot cheaper to fix them yourself than
to have negotiations about the deal.

7. DO Make Cosmetic Improvements.

It may be hard to see your lived-in home objectively. But potential buyers
will be the first to notice worn-out carpeting and scuffed walls. A little bit of
paint, a little bit of carpet cleaning, a pressure wash on the driveway goes a
long way.

8. DO Stage Your Home.

Now that many buyers are checking you out virtually, it’s even more
important that your home looks bright, light, and modern. It may be worth it
to pay an expert stager or have a friend with a great eye come in and update
your decor.

The last four mistakes many people make have to do with buyers and the
buying process. Home sellers can impact the sale! BE CAREFUL that you
don’t make these mistakes.

9. BE CAREFUL About Negotiations.

There are great things and ways to negotiate... and poor ones. You need to
sit down with your real estate agent early in the process and determine your
absolute bottom-line selling price and anything you are or are not willing to
talk with a potential buyer about.

10. BE CAREFUL About When You Sell.

You may already know that selling during the winter months will get you a
lower price for your home. There are ideal times to list your home. This may
even extend to when online listings go live and when you alert the
community.

11. BE CAREFUL About Buyer Qualifications.

A huge time-waste that home sellers sometimes experience is trying to work
with unqualified buyers. While your real estate agent should have a great
process for pre-approvals and proof of funds, be sure you are in the know
about who is being let through your door.

12. BE CAREFUL About Delays.

Any number of things can derail your home sale. It’s super important that
you don’t make impulsive decisions that could set you back several weeks.