Mistake #1. Using a real estate agent instead of a Realtor

When you're looking for help buying or selling property, it's important to
remember that the terms "real estate agent" and "Realtor" are not
synonymous. Realtors can provide an extra level of service, and to be a
Realtor you must be a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
The equivalent organization in Canada is the Canadian Real Estate
Association (CREA). Both are non-profit trade organizations that promote
real estate information, education and professional standards. The National
Association of Realtors also has earned a strong reputation for actively
championing private property rights and working to make home ownership
affordable and accessible. The NAR and CREA members adhere to a strict code
of ethics founded on the principle of providing fair and honest service to
all consumers. Realtor business practices are monitored at local board
levels. Arbitration and disciplinary systems are in place to address
complaints from the public or board members. This local oversight keeps
Realtors directly accountable to the individual consumers they serve and
therefore the consumer is more likely to find better service and
accountability by using a Realtor.

Mistake #2. Complacent marketing when selling a home

When selling your home there are no guarantees that the ultimate buyer of
your home will have simply walked through the front door. In many cases you
may have to bring your home to the buyer. Effective marketing will help
ensure that your property receives maximum exposure to attract a ready,
willing and able buyer in the shortest period of time. Ask your Realtor to
list for you all of the ways he/she intends to market your home and on what
time-line. Also, be sure to ask about the home being advertised on the
Internet.

Mistake #3. Taking for granted the "curb appeal" of your home

When you're preparing your house for sale, remember the importance of first
impressions. A buyer's first impression can make or break whether they even
want to go inside for a look. It is estimated that more than half of all
houses are sold before the buyers even get out of their cars. With that in
mind, be sure to stand outside of your home and take a realistic "fresh
look" and then ask yourself what can be done to make the "curb appeal"
improve. Also ask your Realtor's opinion as to how to improve the curb
appeal. It could make a huge difference in your final sales price. Many
Realtors have helpful videos full of ideas on how you can enhance you home,
request one from you Realtor prior to putting your home on the market. First
impressions are sometimes the last!

Mistake #4. Forgetting about health and safety issues

Be upfront and disclose to your Realtor any problems with the property. The
problems are going to be discovered anyway. A decade ago, health and safety
issues were rarely a part of the typical real estate transaction. Today,
however, it's common for inspections relating to health, safety, and even
environmental concerns to be a part of most sales contracts. Moreover, in
many states, the seller must disclosure to the buyer any knowledge of
existing property problems. In many cases, these issues have been or can be
factored into the home's listing price.

Mistake #5. Forgetting what you would want to see if you were the buyer of
your home

Remember that although people can be different in personality, they tend to
be the same when it comes to expectations at someone else's expense. In
other words, a prospective buyer would probably like to see a perfect home
from top to bottom, inside and out, when it comes to your home. Try to do as
many of the following items as possible to improve the likelihood of your
home sale in an expedient way.


On the outside
1) Sweep front walkway.
2) Remove newspapers, bikes and toys.
3) Park extra cars away from the property.
4) Trim back the shrubs.
5) Apply fresh, clean paint throughout.
6) Clean windows and window coverings throughout.
7) Keep plumbing and all appliances in working order.
8) Maintain all sealant (window, tub, shower, sink, etc.) in good
condition.
9) Make sure roof and gutters are clean and in good condition.
10) Mow the lawn frequently and plant flowers.
11) Keep pet areas clean.


On the inside
1) The kitchen and bathroom should shine.
2) Quick once-over with the vacuum; carpets should be clean.
3) Place fresh flowers in the main rooms.
4) Put dishes away, unless setting a formal display for decoration.
5) Make all beds and put all clothes away.
6) Open drapes and turn on lights for a brighter feel.
7) Straighten closets.
8) Put toys away.
9) Turn off television.
10) Play soft music on the radio/stereo.
11) Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free.
12) Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medication and other valuables.
13) Enhance the spaciousness of each room.


Mistake #6. Thinking you need to be in the home to explain things to a
prospective buyer

You will be better served if you allow your Realtor to do their job without
you there. Most potential buyers usually feel more comfortable if they can
speak freely to the real estate professional without the owners being
present. If people unaccompanied by an agent request to see your property,
you should refer them to your real estate professional for an appointment.


Mistake #7. Not knowing how to price your home to sell

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of selling a home is listing it at the
correct price. It's one of several areas where the assistance of a skilled
real estate agent can more than pay for itself. Listing the home too high
can be as bad as too low. If the listing price is too high, you'll miss out
on a percentage of buyers looking in the price range where your home should
be. This is the flaw in thinking that you'll always have the opportunity to
accept a lower offer. Chances are the offers won't even come in, because the
buyers who would be most interested in your home have been scared off by the
price and aren't even taking the time to look. By the time the price is
corrected, you've already lost exposure to a large group of potential
buyers. The listing price becomes even trickier to set when prices are
quickly rising or falling. It's critical to be aware of where and how fast
the market is moving - both when setting the price and when negotiating an
offer. Again, an experienced, well-trained agent is always in touch with
market trends - often even to a greater extent than appraisers, who
typically focus on what a property is worth if sold as-is, right now.

Mistake #8. Not planning your move earlier enough

Many sellers simply don't plan their move early enough and then feel totally
overwhelmed at the time of moving out of the house. If you are able to move
at any time of the year, don't wait until summer, the peak-moving season.
Consider also that the first and last few days of the month are extra busy.
If you plan to sell your house, get it on the market as soon as possible.
Keep a record of all expenses related to the move, some of which may be tax
deductible. Fill out the Personal Household Inventory for each room. This is
important for establishing the amount of declared valuation for the shipment
and as a permanent inventory for insurance purposes. List, as nearly as
possible, the year of purchase and original cost of each item. Attach any
invoices or records of purchase to the completed inventory. Prepare a
separate high-value inventory if the shipment will contain articles of
"extraordinary" value. The following list includes items that might fall
into this category:

* Antiques
* Art Collections
* Cameras
* China Collections
* Computer Equipment
* Crystal
* Figurines

* Firearms
* Jewelry
* Manuscripts
* Oriental Rugs
* Silver
* Stones Or Gems
* Tapestries
* TVs Or Stereos

Also, unless you have been given a binding moving estimate where a firm cost
is established in advance, the exact cost of a move cannot be determined
until after the shipment has been loaded on the van and weighed. The weight
on which charges are based is calculated by weighing the van before and
after loading. The total cost of the move will include transportation
charges, any charges for declared valuation, plus charges for any extra
services performed at your request. All of these charges are based on tariff
rate schedules.

Mistake #9. Using a "convenient" Realtor rather than using an experienced
Realtor

When working with a real estate agent, it's critical that you have full
confidence in that agent's experience and education. A skilled,
knowledgeable agent should be able to explain to you exactly why your home
needs to be priced at a certain level - compared to recent listings and
sales of homes similar to yours. Experienced agents also know exactly what
the current pool of buyers are looking for in relation to particular styles
and price ranges of properties. A skilled agent can recommend changes that
will enhance the salability of your home, thus increasing the price - and/or
decreasing the length of time before a sale.