Sellers, Beware: Five Reasons You Might Not Get Top Dollar when You Sell Your Home (And How to Avoid Them)
For most people, their home is their largest asset, so they want to maximize that asset by getting top dollar when they sell. Here are a few reasons you might not get top dollar when you sell - and how to avoid them!
Selling At The Wrong Time
From early spring to late summer is home-buying season for most people, especially those with children. Putting your house on the market during this period is when you are likely to get top dollar for it. Early fall is also a good time to list your home. Winter - especially December - is the worst time to list, however there are still buyers out looking for one reason or another (relocation) have to move. If you list your home outside of prime selling season, you are likely to get less for it than you could have otherwise.
Not Staging Your Home Properly
Many people think of staging as simply rearranging the furniture or changing curtains, but there is so much more to it, and not doing it properly can mean less money for your home. To stage your home properly, you must declutter, putting knick-knacks and family pictures away. You also want to make sure your home is as clean as possible and that you correct any defects such as holes in the wall or cracked window panes. Another thing you should do as part of your staging routine is to paint your walls in neutral colors and update cabinet hardware and light fixtures that are out of date. These little changes can make a big difference.
Not Paying Attention To Curb Appeal
You can spend all the time and money necessary to spruce up the inside of your home, but if your lawn is a patch of dirt and your gutters are falling down, all that work and money can go for naught. To get top dollar for your home, you need to improve your curb appeal. This includes seeding or sodding bare spots in your lawn, trimming trees and shrubbery and fixing up home-related items such as broken concrete and sagging gutters.
Not Getting The Price Right
You might think that to get the highest price out of your house, you have to price it high. However, that's not necessarily always the case. If you price your house too high, it can make other similar houses that are priced lower look like better deals. You should make sure to pay close attention to what comparable homes are selling for in the area and price your home accordingly.
Not Working With A Real Estate Agent
The agent knows just what to do, to get it sold.
Many people think they can save a bundle selling their home by not working with a real estate agent. While you do save on the real estate commission, you can lose lots more than that amount by making mistakes in pricing, marketing and not knowing how to negotiate, qualify a buyer, proper channels to contest a low appraisal and much more. A real estate agent will have access to resources you don't, such as information on buyers looking in your neighborhood. An agent will market your home, make sure it is priced accordingly and set up showings. It is worth your time and money to call an agent experienced in selling homes in your neighborhood who can give you a market evaluation. The agent advertises everywhere and knows where the buyers are looking. 
The agent also knows how to negotiate and navigate through a transaction to get to a successful closing.
For more information about real estate in the Louisville, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt county areas, contact me, Karen Rodriguez, at 502-643-2255 or email soldbyk@gmail.com. Years of Experience, Experience the Difference, in fact, 30 years difference. If you are looking to purchase, you can search all available properties for sale on my website and save your favorites, even set up to email yourself new listings in the areas you are interested in.
Go to: WWW.SOLDBYK.COM to search ALL Greater Louisville Properties for sale including Southern Indiana and all counties.
If you are thinking of selling, call me for a FREE home evaluation in your neighborhood, from staging, pricing, housing values, interest rates, how appraisers are valuing properties, now the guidelines have changed. I would love to sit down and talk with you. Just call me and let me know how I can help with your real estate needs.