Improper pricing is by  far the most common mistake that unsuccessful home-sellers make. If you set the price too high, your home will sit unsold and become “shopworn.” This will only help to sell homes competing with yours as buyers who see your home will compare it to  properly priced  comparables and will obviously choose the better value. On the other hand, if you price it too low, you may give away thousands of dollars to a total stranger. You must keep in mind that the market value is set by the market–not by Realtors, appraisers or sellers–but by what buyers have paid for comparable properties.

There is only one thing that determines value–that is the market. Basically it’s what buyers are willing to pay for comparable properties in your area. This figure fluctuates by supply and demand just like any other commodity. Since buyers are out there shopping– comparing values, it is very difficult to find a buyer willing to pay more than current market value. No single person, firm or agent has any control over the market.

First impressions are probably more important in real estate than in any other field. A staggering amount of home sales have been lost to cluttered rooms, un-mowed lawns, dirty kitchens and bathrooms, stained carpets and unpleasant odors. It is imperative that you clean every nook and cranny so that everything sparkles as when it was new.

Many times minor improvements will set the homeowner back thousands of dollars during negotiations. A leaky faucet, paint on trim, a cracked tile, any of these minor details can be used as leverage when dealing with offers and counter-offers. Another thing to keep in mind is that since there are so many homes for sale, what may seem to be a small fix-up job can make the difference between a closed sale at top dollar and a home that just sits on the market for months on end.

Over improving or under improving for the neighborhood is a mistake quite a few real estate sellers make. Spending too much on improvements will not necessarily reflect in a dollar for dollar increase in the sale price of your house. Yes, it will probably increase the “saleability factor” but you won’t recoup your investment.  There are only two remodeling projects which real estate sellers usually get their money back from (or more), and that is the bathroom and kitchen.  Be careful. Not improving to bring your house up to the level of the other homes in the immediate area could cost you more in a lower sale price than the actual expense of the improvement.

Sellers should give consideration to absolutely any offer. Unfortunately, some sellers dismiss early offers and prefer to wait around for a better offer, this could be a big mistake, because it could be that your first offer is your only offer.

A buyer who can’t purchase your home is not really a buyer at all. It sounds simple but thousands of hours  are wasted every day by showing properties and negotiating with precisely this type of buyer. Buyers should be pre-approved for a loan before you begin to work with them.

Try to imagine what you would want to see if you were buying the home. Although people are of all backgrounds and personalities, there are some common traits among all home shoppers. One of these traits is the desire to see something they are about to spend a great amount of money on being in perfect condition. This means a thorough cleaning and removing everything not vitally necessary to live with from the home. Buyers will be picky, so you too must be picky in cleaning. Don’t miss a spot.

You must realize that selling your home is a business transaction–not an emotional one. This focus should stay clear throughout the entire home selling process. The buyer sees no benefit in the intrinsic value that you have created in your property. They are buying a property to make it their own.

The vast majority of all homes are sold by real estate agents. But not all agents are the same. The agent’s experience, knowledge and marketing plan will have an enormous impact on your success. Choosing the right agent will make all the difference in the world.