Mistake #1 – Improper Pricing
You never want to price your property too high, especially if you are hoping for a quick sale. It’s true that every seller wants to get the most money possible for their home but think about it, every buyer wants to get a deal they can live with as well.

In order to get the best possible price the best thing you can do for yourself is to avoid a high listing price.

A high listing price will cause certain potential buyers to lose interest before they even see your property. Also, it may lead other buyers to expect more than what you have to offer. When you add this all up it means that you are forcing your property to remain on the market.

Despite what you are hoping for you need to go with the market and avoid over pricing. Overpriced properties normally take an unusually long time to sell, and end up selling for a much lower price.

Mistake #2 -- Mistaking Refinance Appraisals for the Actual Market Value
Often, a refinance appraisal may be trumped up for refinancing purposes. What this means is that the value may have been stated at an untruthfully high price. Lenders will generally estimate the value of your property to be higher than it actually is because this will encourage refinancing.

The actual market value of your home could actually be lower then the appraisal you were hoping to base your price on. The best thing you can do is to ask your real estate agent for the most recent information regarding property sales in your community. This will give you an up-to-date and accurate estimate of your property value and what buyers are currently willing to pay for your home.

Mistake #3 – Not Bothering to Showcase Your Home
This is one of the most common and easily avoidable problems when selling your home. It is purely common sense that you want your home to make the best possible first impression that it can. If for whatever reason it doesn’t make a good first impression it probably will not have a chance to make a second impression.

When attempting to sell your home you need to make your home look as pleasant as possible. Make any necessary repairs that you have been avoiding. Clean everything until your home is spotless and then go over it again. Make sure everything functions, sounds right, and looks presentable.

A poorly kept or cluttered home that appears badly in need of repairs will not only lower the selling price of your property, but it may even cause some buyers to discount the idea of buying your home altogether.

Mistake #4 – Forcing a Showing
It is natural that both buying and selling a home are considered to be an emotional time. For the buyer it can also be a difficult decision. They want to know they are making the right choice and they will be satisfied with the options and benefits of the new home they plan to buy.

The worst thing you can do is make it difficult on potential buyers during a showing. When you spend the time following them around and watching their every move you ensure that they do not get to weigh the pros and cons of your home. Generally when this happens they decide to leave and it’s doubtful that they will ever come back.

You need to be friendly and allow potential buyers the freedom to look through your home. If you have decided on a real estate professional the best thing you can do for yourself is leave the showing to them and go out while the home is being looked at.

Mistake #5 -- Trying to Sell to un-screened buyers
A prospective buyer who shows interest because of the sign in your yard may not really be interested in your property or at least may not be ready to purchase just yet.

In most cases a buyer that does not find you through an agent is a good 6-9 months away from buying. In fact, in most cases the potential buyer is more interested in seeing what is on the market instead of actually making a purchase.

These prospects may still have to sell their house, or worse they might not be able to afford a house yet. They may still even be unsure as to whether or not they want to relocate.

Your Realtor should be able to distinguish realistic potential buyers from the window shoppers. An experienced Realtor will screen your potential buyers by finding out about the buyer's savings, credit rating, and the intent and ability to purchase a home.

This will help you avoid wasting valuable time marketing towards the wrong people. If you have to do this work yourself or your real estate agent seems to avoid doing it you should consider finding a new Realtor.

Mistake #6 – Being unaware of Your Rights & Responsibilities
It is extremely important that you are well-informed of the details in your real estate contract and agreements. Real estate contracts are legally binding documents, and they can often be confusing, which makes it all the more important that you understand what you are signing.

Not being aware of the terms in your contracts could cost you thousands of dollars for repairs and inspections. You need to know what you are responsible for before signing any contract.

Not understanding your contract and failing to find out what your signing can end up costing you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

Mistake #7 -- Limiting your home’s Marketing and Advertising
You ultimately will want a real estate professional that will use a wide variety of marketing techniques to sell your home. Your Realtor should also be committed to selling your property above anything else.

You want a real estate agent that is available when a potential buyer calls and that can screen the buyer and be available for an appointment when they want one. You have plenty of things to worry about, and you want to know that your home is being marketed at all hours of the day. You don’t want a real estate professional to put your home in the paper and leave it at that. You want them using state of the art technology such as: web sites and internet marketing, voice mail that works around the clock, emotional response marketing, and anything else that will get your home sold!

If you have any questions or find that you need assistance I would be more than willing to do all I can to meet your real estate needs in a timely and efficient manner.