When it comes to the list of most stressful things in life, selling your home is probably up near the top. Your home is probably your most valuable asset, so, you want to not only have a smooth process, but you want to sell it at the best price.

Here are 10 things which you really shouldn’t do when selling your home.

1. Ignore the maintenance

It is worth spending the time and money, making repairs and tidying up on the maintenance. But don’t over capitalise. Yes, mend the roof and fix up holes in the wall, but don’t install a new kitchen or bathroom. A good agent will always point out what is worth doing to add value.

2. Present your property badly

While your friends and relatives are more than happy with the ‘take us as you find us’ attitude, potential buyers are not so accepting. It’s really important you properly prepare you property for sale, so clear away the clutter, make the bathroom and kitchen sparkle, let in the light and create a home where people can really envisage themselves living.

3. Set the price too high

Do your homework and see what the market is dictating. If you set the price too high, there will be less interest in the property, and there is a danger it will be on the market for an extended period of time; if you have to reduce the price, potential buyers may think there is something wrong with it, and negotiate harder.

4. Skimp on the marketing materials

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and good photography really does make a difference. But it’s worth going a step further and paying the extra for virtual tours and videos, especially in these lock down times. A video sets your property apart and can give you the competitive edge. They do generate more interest online and, together with virtual tours, give far-away buyers a genuine feel for your home; in some cases, they will make an offer without seeing the property.

5. Narrow reaching your prospective audience

When selling a home, we strongly believe you need to have as many genuinely interested people as possible view your property. And this only happens with strategic marketing. Most people turn to the internet when making their searches, but do you know the difference between Gold and Feature properties and Platinum and Premier listings on the real estate websites? Is it worth putting a sign outside the house? What about traditional media? Spending a little bit more on the marketing often results in a higher-than-expected sale; in some cases, up to 25% higher.

6. Be inflexible

We like to think things will go as planned, but sometimes they don’t. From allowing viewings at times which may be a bit inconvenient to not negotiating on aspects of the sale, it is best to be flexible in the selling process.

7. Don’t read the fine print

The devil is in the detail. Make sure you read the fine print of contracts and consult a legal/financial expert before you sign anything. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask.

8. Do it yourself

We’ve saved the most important thing of ‘what not to do’ until last. We know we’re biased, but as shown by the above list, there is a lot which goes into selling your home. Yes, it is possible to sell your home yourself, but the process can be time consuming and if not done properly, you may not necessarily get the best price.

If you have an experienced real estate agent, selling your property is a lot less stressful. We guide you through every step of the process and help you avoid these, and other common mistakes.

If you’re thinking of selling in the future, why not call in for a free, no obligatory quote; having been in the business for 40 plus years, we’ve helped thousands of people add value to their properties and are constantly achieving great results for our clients.

Call in and see us in the Cardiff office or give us a call on 02 4954 8833. Or send us an email to: mail@apnewcastle.com.au.

And don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for handy tips on selling your property or what to look for when buying a property.