Myths

Selling your home should be a simple process, but is often fraught with difficulty – and one reason are the number of myths surrounding selling people take as hard fact.

Here are some top myths fully debunked – so if you are thinking of selling, take a look and keep them in mind to help you secure a swift sale at a top price.

Price High

Many people think they may as well try their luck and see if they can squeeze that bit more out of the value of their property, lowering their price if it is not snapped up.

But the market is called a market for a reason. Your home is worth what it is worth usually in quite a narrow band which your realtor can advise you on by using sales data from comparable properties. By aiming unrealistically high you simply put off those who are potential buyers who may not even give your house a serious consideration.

Curb Appeal

If you can get a prospective buyer inside your beautiful home, they will overlook the outside. No – whatever we tell ourselves we do judge books by their covers and your home has to make the right impression in a drive-by.

Take the time to do your yard work – mow the lawn, rake up leaves, trim bushes and hedges, touch up paint, repair the driveway. First impressions count – a lot.

Minor Repairs

Just as with curb appeal, do not put off minor repairs. Get them fixed. You send a bad message if buyers spot jobs undone – what else lurks awaiting them? And even if they are still interested, they will discount the cost of the repairs from their offer for sure.

Renovations

The same applies here – if the bathroom or kitchen really needs doing, get it done. People usually are looking for a turn-key property, one they can just move into. If they are up for the cost and work involved in major renovations, they will be looking for a fixer-upper at a much lower price than you are expecting.

Features

Pools, saunas, summer houses – all great things for sure, but they rarely recoup their investment. This is especially true if yours is the only home in your neighborhood with them as you will be pushing your property out of comparable homes.

If you want a pool or a tennis court because it means a lot to you and it is your passion – go for it and enjoy it over the years. That is where the value is for you. Do not put them in as a selling feature and expect to profit from them, you will probably lose money on the investment.

Sell Yourself

A common myth – do the work yourself and save the commission payable to a realtor. You can, for sure, there are no legal restrictions to this.

But ask yourself why you visit a doctor when you are ill, get a mechanic to fix your car, trust a vet with your beloved pet and seek legal advice from a lawyer. They are experts in their fields, and you get what you pay for

A good realtor is worth the commission because they know how to sell your home, how to negotiate with buyers, know the best ways to advertise, have networks of contacts and contractors, have lists of prospects, and handle the hard work for you and can get a higher price than most people who sell themselves.