Selling a house can create all kinds of fears and concerns. Learn the difference between the myths and truths to alleviate some of those worries!
Myth #1: You should always price your home high and then negotiate down.
Truth: It is difficult to obtain a reasonable offer on an overpriced property.
If you list too high, you’ll miss out on buyers (as many as up to 60%) looking in the price range where your home should be. Offers may not even come in, because buyers who are interested in your home are scared off by the price and won’t even take the time to look at it or they have been researching homes online and see the price discrepancy and move on. By the time you correct the price and list your home at its fair market value, you will have lost that window of opportunity when your home draws the most attention from the public and real estate agents — the first 2-4 weeks it is on the market. The longer a house “sits on the market”, it is like the Kiss of Death, doomed to attract fewer and fewer buyers every day making it harder and harder to sell. To obtain proper market exposure, it is an absolute necessity to be competitive in price, terms, and condition with similar properties that are selling in the area as soon as you put it on the market. If you are serious about selling your home, price your property at market value and attract serious buyers. You will stand a much better chance of getting full-market value and your property will sell much more quickly.

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Myth #2: Minor repairs can wait until later. There are more important things to be done.
Truth: Minor repairs make your house more marketable, allowing you to maximize your return (or minimize loss) on the sale.
Most buyers are looking for homes that are turnkey or move in ready. They do not want to have to do a lot of work on a new home (at least “new” to them). If you have repairs that are obviously needed, a potential buyer will think of repairs with the 2/3rds rule. For example, if you have a hole in the wall that would cost $100 to repair in a day, a buyer will think it will take twice as long to repair and cost threes times as much. So your $100 hole of “deferred maintenance” becomes a two-day repair costing $300. A buyer will go through your home adding up all the “little things” that are wrong with it. If your home happens to attract a buyer who is willing to make repairs, they will begin asking for repair allowances that come out of your asking price. The amount of an allowance that you have to offer a buyer is usually more than what it would cost for you to make the repair (or hire someone to make the repair). Also, remember that the home inspections will point out every defect and safety issue which also will potentially cost you even more. Remember, buyers are comparing your home to other homes that are currently on the market. Your home should be maintained, safe and inviting so that everyone who looks at it can see themselves living there.
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