Five mistakes to avoid when selling your house in Alaska
When you put your house on the market it’s easy to find lots of advice for all the things you need to sell a home. But just as important, and often overlooked, are some very important “don’ts” that can harm your chances for a quick and lucrative sale.
With more than 30 years of helping people buy and sell homes in the Eagle River, Wasilla, and Mat-su Valley region of Alaska area we’ve seen just about everything. That’s why we decided to share the following missteps to avoid when you put your house on the market.
DON’T leave your home dirty and cluttered
While your house is on the market make it a priority to keep it clean, neat and uncluttered. A dirty, messy, or even smelly home will leave a bad impression right from the start. If your home is littered with kid’s or pets toys, has crumbs and a mess on the counter from last night’s dinner, or towels and laundry lying on the floor, it makes your home seem less appealing and is a definite turn off for buyers.
DON’T have too much empty space
Too much clutter is bad, as we mentioned before. But a totally empty home can also be an obstacle. If you’ve moved out and your home for sale is empty, think about staging it. Staging a house with furniture and decor gives buyers a better idea of the space and potential of each room, allowing them to picture themselves living there. Your Realtor should be able to recommend a staging service that can turn empty rooms into a warm, inviting space.
DON’T overprice your home
Ask too much and you’re going to have a hard time selling your home. Working with an experienced Realtor is an invaluable resource for deciding on a fair price that offers the best for both the buyer and the seller. No matter how perfect your home may be, if you set the price too high, you risk turning people off before they even set foot in the door.
DON’T get in the way
There is such a thing as being too helpful, especially when potential buyers are touring the home. For open houses and scheduled showings, it’s best if you, your family and even your pets vacate the home. While you want to be helpful and able to answer questions quickly, buyers need to be able to ask questions or make comments without worrying you’ll overhear them. They also need some space to be able to imagine themselves as the new owners. Let your Realtor handle showing the house and enjoy a cup of coffee or a walk to the park while buyers are touring the home.
DON’T work with an experienced Realtor
Choosing the right real estate professional is simply the most important decision you will make when selling your home. An experienced Realtor will help you every step of the way from setting the asking price to advice on staging to getting the word out to prospective buyers in the best way possible. They will also be your voice in sharing the value of your home and highlighting key attributes that make it more likely to attract offers that will benefit your bottom line.
While this list is full of tips for what NOT to do, we hope you can see between the lines for what CAN be done for a great home selling experience. If you are interested in selling or buying a home in the Anchorage, Eagle River, or Wasilla area of Alaska please give us a call, we’re here to help!
