get it done. If you have the extra money, considering hiring professional cleaners. • Repairs/Upgrades: Assume you’ll need to do a bit of basic home improvement before listing your home. Even if your home is in great condition, there’s a good chance it could use some “sprucing up”—like a fresh coat of paint—before going on the market. If you act ahead of time, it’s generally less expensive to get things fixed. Plus, you don’t want potential buyers to see the property’s faults, which can be a deal breaker. Please note that if you’re planning any repairs, or you’re going to leave them, get your estimates from more than one source; this will give you needed leverage during negotiations since you know exactly how much the repairs will cost. If you decide to sell your home without making certain repairs, particularly major ones (electrical work, leaky roof, etc.), then you must disclose these 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 57
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