Poor planning
Many private sellers give little thought to what the sales process actually involves before putting their own home or apartment on the market. The act of selling a home has big financial implications.
False hopes
You’ve always taken good care of your property. Over the years, you’ve put a lot of time, effort and money into making your home exactly how you want it. Sellers will often describe the property in glowing terms in ads or on the phone, which can give potential buyers a false impression of the interior or the general condition of the property.
Wrong valuation
Because all properties are different, it can be hard to value them accurately. When selling real estate, the achievable price is based solely on the market demand, which can vary greatly depending on the type of property, the timing of the sale and the location. If the price is too low, you’ll be giving money away. But if your expectations are too high, you will put potential buyers off.
Missing documentation
Of course, a potential buyer will want to get as much information as possible about your property before deciding whether to buy it. You should therefore make sure you have all the necessary documentation ready to answer any questions that may arise.
Hard to reach
When it comes to the number of properties currently on the market, potential buyers are spoilt for choice. So, if they keep getting your voicemail when trying to call you, they’ll soon lose patience and move on to the next seller.
Misjudging how long the sale might take
Often, the time needed to sell a property is greatly underestimated, or even overestimated. Both can have dire consequences!
If you’re keen to avoid these mistakes yourself, read our information leaflet ‘Six Tips for Avoiding the Six Most Common Mistakes by Private Sellers’. To request it, simply fill in our contact form and write ‘Six tips’ in the message field.