First-time sellers beware: there are lots of myths out there about the right way to sell your home. While your Texas REALTOR® is your first line of defense against making these mistakes, here are three common selling myths busted:
Myth: I’ll sell my home on my own and save money by not using a real estate agent.
Truth: Texas REALTORS® don’t work for free, but that’s because they provide valuable assistance through the home-selling process. A REALTOR® can help you reduce your risk of making a costly selling mistake and are plugged into your local housing market. If you DIY, that means you’ll have to spend time marketing your home adequately, be available to show the home, and navigate your way through a tricky transaction alone.
Myth: If I price my home higher than market value, I’m leaving room for negotiations.
Truth: Buyers have no idea this is your strategy and won’t understand why your price is too high. Many won’t even view your home if it’s priced too high, much less put in an offer. An improperly priced home is also more likely to sit on the market, making potential buyers think there’s something wrong with it. And when that happens, you’ll probably end up with lower offers than if you’d priced the property correctly from Day One.
Myth: I’ll mow the lawn and hide my stuff and my home will be ready to show.
Truth: Is a mowed lawn and hidden clutter all it takes to attract you to a home? It won’t work for potential buyers of your property, either. Your Texas REALTOR® might go through your home with you and identify areas that could use some sprucing up to make your home more appealing. Or, he or she might recommend working with a home stager to make the best impression. Be open to those suggestions … your Texas REALTOR® knows what makes a property sell quickly for top dollar.
I couldn’t agree with this article more. For a long time, I believed some of these myths and others equally crazy, but I found out that a good realtor can be invaluable. I would guess that the average family buys/sells a house every 8-10 years and therefore doesn’t keep up with market trends, neighborhoods, etc. But a good realtor does. And when you think of all the effort realtors puts in to drive around and do showings, to answer all kinds of questions, and to give advice based on long years of experience, good realtors really pay for themselves.
A recently married friend has entered into a contract on to buy a home & even posted Ernest money ($3K) , but my friend & her spouse, are currently estranged & living apart. They’ve just been approved, based on both incomes and the closing date is on 7/19! The Sellers have started to have their new home built too! So, the issue my friend faces now, is obviously, there is a very strong possibility they will Divorce , but their Realtor is telling my friend that she/they can’t change their minds about buying the home as they’ve signed a Legal… Read more »