"Spooky" REAL ESTATE BLOOPERS
You've replaced the light bulbs, scrubbed the floorsand touched up the walls in preparation for your showing. If
you think you've got everything under control, think again.
When sellers put their homes on the market, they often make
mistakes that can become serious obstacles to a sale. Make
sure you don't fall into any of these traps......
Not hiring an agent. People who sell by owner
(FSBO) may think they're saving themselves money by going at it
alone. But in the long run, if owners let their homes linger on the
market for months - or even years in some cases - they are
wasting time and losing money.
Not recognizing a good offer. You may have heard an agent
say, "The first offer is the best offer." But often, sellers want to
hold out for bigger and better. So they pass on the first offer and
then, down the road, when the bigger number doesn't come
through, they regret turning down the first one. So the rule of
thumb is, if you get an offer and it's close to or above your
minimum sales price, do your best to close the deal.
Not leaving your home during a showing. No prespective
buyer wants the seller looming over his shoulder or following him
around the house. It is much easier for a buyer to imagine living
in a place if the current owners aren't there. Go see a movie, shop
or visit friends - do anything but hang around the showing.
Not deodorizing a home that smells. After living in a home
for years, you may not notice subtle (or sometimes not so subtle)
smells, whether they're from pets, smoke or food. Odors tend to
cling to carpets, curtains and furniture and once you've grown
used to them, you think the smell is neutral. This is where a
second opinion is critical. Have a trusted friend or neighbor
come to your house and tell you if there are any odors. If there
are, make sure to eliminate them before your showing.
Not making your last mortgage payment before closing.
Even if you're closing on the second day of the month, and your
mortgage is due on the first, you must send in your payment.
Sometimes sellers erroneously think that they can skip that final
payment once they have signed a contract to sell their home. If
you skip this last payment, you may incur late fees and missing it
may affect your credit history. Don't worry about losing money
for the weeks you're not living in the house. When the escrow
officer or attorney produces the closing documents, the numbers
will be calculated based on the payments that have been received
by the lender.
posted by DakotaCarol @ 9:50 AM
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