10 Mistakes Home Sellers Can Avoid in Los Angeles
Ready to sell your home in Los Angeles? You will likely have many decisions to make along the way. Learn more about the mistakes home sellers can avoid before selling their home in Los Angeles!
There are many things to consider when selling your home. Sellers often make the same mistakes, but there are ways around them. The first step is to know what they are!
#1 – Not exploring options
You don’t have to list your home in Los Angeles to sell it. You can choose to sell it yourself on the market to traditional buyers or directly to a professional property buyer or investor. What works for a property seller may not work for you. Before you call an agent, take a look at what’s available to you! Exploring options will ensure that you get the optimal result.
#2 – Pricing incorrectly
If you choose to list your home for sale, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is pricing it too high from the start. Many sellers have an overly inflated price in their heads, trying to get as much as possible without considering what a realistic asking price will be. Some agents will advise you to list high so they can convince you to sign with them, while they try to get a higher commission.
#3 – Not cleaning your personal items
Imagine if you were viewing a property. You don’t want to see someone’s vitamins on the table, family photos everywhere, or their stack of mail on the counter. Seeing personal items scattered about can make people very uncomfortable. They need to be able to imagine themselves in the house, not feel like they are invading someone’s space. Many people will pack up everything but the necessities and store it until the house sells.
#4 – Not considering all costs
If you decide to list your home in Los Angeles, there are all sorts of costs to consider. There are not only agent commissions, but also agent fees, administrative costs, marketing costs, listing fees, closing costs, and more.
#5 – Not making the necessary repairs
Not doing some things in advance will cost you later. Once your buyer does an inspection, they will often ask for a number of things to be fixed. You may be surprised by how much repair your home needs. Some sellers choose to do their own inspection before listing to get an idea of what to expect. Addressing problems early will save you time and money down the road.
#6 – Do not reveal items in advance
These items will come back to bite you. Either at the inspection or when the new owner sues you. By law, you have to disclose what you know about the property.
#7 – Do not keep things from pets and children
While children and pets are wonderful, not everyone has them. Some people will be a bit uncomfortable if there are chew toys on the couch or legos all over the floor. Remember, the experience is about them. Make the areas feel neutral but welcoming.
#8 – Do not let go of personal feelings
this is business If someone comes to look at your house and hears that you want to take out the yard to add a deck, don’t get too hung up on whether you plan to pay them the price you want. While it may feel a bit sad, this is business, and losing a qualified buyer over something insignificant can be a huge mistake.
#9 – Hire a bad agent
It can be easy to hire the wrong agent. Some are full of charm and are great for sales. This is great when they are trying to sell your house, but they also use this charm to get you to sign with them. Make sure they aren’t making false promises or just concerned about their commission. You can see the reviews, but it’s better to hear the first-hand experience from people you know and trust. You’re just not going to click with everyone either. You may find that working with the best agent in town can be incredibly stressful.
#10 – Not having a game plan
Selling your home can be a stressful time, but it doesn’t have to be. Having a game plan will help you get out of the process unscathed. Generally speaking, if your property is in very good condition and you can wait months to sell it, the best plan is to list it with a real estate agent. If, on the other hand, your property is in jeopardy and you need to sell it quickly, selling it to a professional homebuyer or investor is often the best option.