issues during negotiations. You could be liable for future costs if you don’t. • Staging: A lot of homeowners, particularly homeowners who haven’t been in the market for a long time, don’t see the value of properly staging their homes before showings. But that’s a mistake that could cost you a sale. You need to view home staging as an investment, not an expense. Think of it this way: a typical home-staging expenditure might range from 1 to 3% of the home’s listing price, yet it can result in selling the house for 5 to 10% more. Staging might not have been something that was done decades ago, but it’s very important to the home-selling process today.
MISTAKE #8. INTERACTING TOO MUCH WITH BUYERS
Many sellers don’t understand that it’s generally not a good idea to interact too much with potential buyers during the home- selling process. The first no-no in this category is “hovering.” While you might be tempted to hang around buyers while they’re checking out your home, beware: lurking sellers make buyers nervous and unlikely to make an offer. They’ll feel like they’re intruding in “your” home, especially if you’ve lived there for decades, and then they’ll rush through to avoid feelings of discomfort as well as important questions. It’s much easier for buyers to feel comfortable asking questions and to visualize themselves living in the home when they’re free to walk through and discuss on their own terms, without sellers hovering.
Whenever possible, don’t be home for showings. If you’re selling
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