The 5 Most Common Mistakes When Selling Your Home In 2022

We often see people make mistakes when buying and selling property. As an Independent agent we are here to warn you and prevent mistakes from happening.

1. Weighing Up Position VS Offer

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You may think that finding your new home will be the trickiest part of the process, but it is the sales progression where things can get rocky. This is the time when all the legal processes start to transfer ownership over to you, but also everyone else that is in your chain. It is here where we earn our money, resolving problems swiftly so no one gets itchy feet, chasing paperwork and generally being the glue that keeps your chain in place until completion. Sometimes weighing up your offers and choosing the offer in the best position can save you a headache even if its sightly less than the highest offer made.

Once an offer is accepted you reach the most stressful time of home buying and selling and it is worth being prepared for what is about to happen so that you don’t lose heart and walk away. Ask all parties, your mortgage lender, your conveyancer and estate agent what paperwork they will need during the process so you can start to get it ready. Make sure you return calls quickly, and always ask if you are unsure about something that is happening.

You may have to take some deep breaths during the sales progression, but by being prepared and keeping your eye on that wonderful new home at the end, you can make sure that your dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

2. Lack of Modern Marketing Techniques

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With your valuation in hand don’t rush into a decision until you have discovered exactly how your property will be marketed to attract potential buyers. Do your research and search an agents online presence first: do they use a property portal such as Rightmove or Zoopla, are their photographs of an exceptional quality? What about the property descriptions, floorplans and the use of video and drone shots? How do they use social media and engage with local buyers and those further afield? Marketing a property today is about using a multitude of tools effectively; does how this estate agent market a property get you excited? If it does, they are hitting the right note, if not, then ask yourself if other buyers will feel the same?

3. Not Presenting What You're Selling

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If you have been browsing property websites in the search for your next home, you will notice those sellers who have put in the work to ensure that their property is looking its best for potential buyers. You will also notice those who haven’t, and often there could be something off-putting, such as a cluttered room, an untidy bedroom, a unloved garden, that can put you off going to view.

Unless your house is a project you need to make sure it is presented properly using home staging methods. Ensuring your home is clean and organised is a great start, but it isn’t just about having an immaculate home but projecting the lifestyle that your home gives. You only have to watch house programmes, or flick through home magazines to see home staging in action: a loaf and breadknife stylishly placed on the kitchen work surface, a thoughtfully placed throw on a bed with a book at its side; these little touches add warmth and personality to your home.

4. Over Pricing Your Home

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We can not stress enough how price can have such an effect on the attractiveness of your home to buyers. Your home, as soon as it is listed, will be compared with other houses within a similar price bracket, and if your home seems overpriced it will be noticed instantly. Of course it is alluring to have an estate agent tell you they can sell your home for a wonderfully high figure, but is that an actual fact based on their ability with recently sold properties in the area? Could be. Or is it a tactic to try to win your business?

At Vendors and Buyers we are not here to list properties, we sell homes. We use our experience in the local property market, understanding which streets are on the up, and those areas that are falling out of favour. When we appraise your home we take so many factors into account, including condition, presentation, location and up-to-the minute data. We always aim to achieve the highest possible price for your property, and we will not inflate that to win your business.

5. Unnecessary Spending VS Essential Repairs

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Work with us, not against us. We are experts in our field and know how best to market and prepare your home for sale. If we make suggestions on staging your home, it is always in the best interest of your sale based on our understanding of what buyers are looking for locally. You may at times not agree, but our priority is to get your home sold for the highest price and the easiest way to achieve that is by working with us, not against us. Don't go spending loads of money repairing subjective things within your property that potential buyers will change anyway. Ask for advice and we will inform you.