Spring is just around the corner, and with it will come the rush of sellers getting ready to list their homes. Are you one of them? If so, we’d like to help you make the most of this busy and promising season with a few tips from our team.
Here are 5 common mistakes people make when selling a home in spring and how to avoid them:
1. Pricing Your Home Incorrectly
As a seller, pricing your home for over market value may seem like a great way to make the most of the spring season, but overpricing can often drive away buyers that are qualified for the actual value of the home. Therefore, you could be missing out on a sale or have to drop the price significantly, which doesn’t bode well for your home’s market reputation.
How to avoid it: First, get a home evaluation to see what your property is actually worth. With that information, we can better understand your home’s position in the market, look at comparable properties, and price your home with complete accuracy and confidence. See what your home is worth today by completing the form below.
2. Ignoring Curb Appeal
The bright and fresh spring season can make your home look great on its own, but don’t solely rely on it to produce the best curb appeal. Learning how to add curb appeal to your home and applying that knowledge can drastically increase the number of people who come see your home, adding interest and possibly resulting in a faster sale.
How to avoid it: There are many simple things you can do to improve your home’s curb appeal without breaking the bank. Trim the foliage, clean the walkway and driveway, add a fresh coat of paint to the front door, wash the windows, and place some welcoming porch accessories to make your home feel inviting and clean.
3. Skipping Home Improvements & Value-Adds
To get your home ready for spring buyers, you must learn what home buyers want and make the proper improvements and upgrades to meet those wants. Not making these changes will negatively impact how your home looks in advertisements and online, which is the first impression many buyers will get of your home. And, of course, your home will fail to impress prospective buyers when they see it in person.
How to avoid it: Conduct an honest evaluation of your home with a professional: Is your kitchen up-to-date? Could your bathroom use a facelift? How are the foundation and roof? Schedule a home inspection to identify and fix any issues, and you’ll be one step closer to improving your home’s aesthetic and raising its value.
4. Being Unprepared to Sell
Selling your home in spring might happen faster than you think – are you ready? If not, you could lose out on a sale and delay your success. Here are some things to consider:
- Have you decluttered and prepared the property as best you can?
- Have you purchased your next house already, or are you waiting to sell first?
- Have you confirmed your finances?
How to avoid it:
- Start decluttering, depersonalizing, and cleaning your home well before you list. This can speed up the process and help stagers and home improvement specialists make your home look its best.
- Have your next home under contract, whether you are buying or renting next. If you sell your home quickly you should be ready to move out within a reasonable timeframe. Wondering if you should buy or sell first? Just ask us.
- Establish your closing date and bottom line with any other sellers involved in the sale, and make sure you have the funds to cover all costs and fees. If you are buying another home, get pre-approved for your mortgage.
Not sure where to start? Contact our team and we will be happy to help or connect you with professionals who can.
5. Hiring the Wrong Agent
No matter what season you sell your home in, the right agent will make all the difference. Working with an inexperienced agent, an agent that doesn’t know your neighbourhood, or an agent who doesn’t understand the proper strategy to get you the most money for your home will only lead to disappointment and stress.
We helped a client overcome this particular mistake in the past. Read more about that in our case study, What Happens When The Local Realtor Isn’t The Best Realtor.
How to avoid it: The best thing you can do is meet with a real estate agent or team you’re interested in to see if you are a good fit. Want to see if that’s us?
If you’re thinking about selling your home in spring, call us at 613.590.3036, send us an email at info@buyandsellottawa.ca, or schedule a meeting.