Isn’t interesting how many people become advice experts when you decide to sell your home?  Family and friends don’t hesitate to give you their unsolicited advice. Don’t get us wrong, they probably have good intentions, but unfortunately, their advice does more harm than anything else. Let’s explore the advice you should avoid at all costs:

“Never sell your home in the winter or fall”

Yes, there are buyers that will buy in the spring and summer so that they can be settled by the time their children need to go to school. But there are lots of buyers that are not limited to this time frame.  They are people like; empty nesters looking to downsize, young single professionals looking for their first home, and young couples starting their lives together.  The thing to realize is there will always be people who are shopping for a home.

“Price your home high so you have room to negotiate”

Some people might believe that pricing a home high gives buyers room to negotiate. DON’T buy into this advice – it is the absolute worst thing you can do! Pricing your home too high will immediately eliminate a large pool of buyers who feel they cannot afford your home. More than likely, your home will just sit on the market, just waiting for you to reduce the price.  Price reductions can make you look desperate and statistics show that you actually end up getting a price lower than what you could have gotten if you had just priced your home at market value from the beginning.

“You should wait until the market is better”

No one has a crystal ball that magically will predict the real estate market. There are so many factors that affect the housing market that it is almost impossible to predict it. Something as simple as interest rates going up a 1/2 a point can have a significant impact on affordability for a buyer – so there is no time like the present.

“You don’t have to make any repairs – if the buyer wants the house, they will make them”

If you know there are repairs that have to be made, make them.  To potential buyers, they will see them as real problems or issues that can seem so much more expensive or just too time-consuming for them to want to deal with.  Their solution will be to ask for a reduction in price causing you to lose money in the end.

“Oh, you don’t need professional photos”

Hiring a professional to take your photos is one of the best things you can do.  There is a lot more to taking a great real estate photo and you want your home show beautifully – whether it is in printed material, online or in person. Since most buyers are starting their search for a home online, many will decide whether to see your home based on the photos alone.  The Knowles Team includes high-quality HD photographs as part of our full service.

“You don’t need an agent – you can save money by selling it yourself”

With a “hot” real estate market you might think you don’t need an agent to sell your home. The house will sell itself because it is a seller’s market. This might be true, however, there are so many things to consider when selling your home.  It is not just about finding a buyer. An experienced agent can help you through each step of what can be a confusing process – everything from exposing your home to the most potential buyers possible, strategizing to attract multiple offers, negotiating the highest price, making sure the contract is well written and protects your interest, among many other things.

If you are in the market to sell your home, you owe it to yourself to hire a professional real estate agent – statistics show that using an agent, yields better results.

For more information – call the Knowles Team powered by Keller Williams Greater Seattle at: (206) 653-0085

Are you interested in buying a home?  Stay on top of the market! We can send you real-time listings of area homes as they come on the market – find out how. Want to find out what your home is worth?  Request a FREE Market Analysis TODAY! Contact the Knowles Team TODAY at (206) 653-0085 to discuss what is happening in today’s Greater Seattle area Real Estate Market. The Knowles Team will be happy to give you a personalized Comparative Market Analysis for your home or assist you in purchasing a home.

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