Common Mistakes When Selling a House

Selling a property doesn’t have to be stressful and, in this article, we’ll explore the most common mistakes when selling your home. We’ll also explain how to solve issues when selling a house and help you make it through the process without a hitch, achieving a price you’re happy with.  

The Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a House

Let’s get straight into it with the common mistakes which are made when trying to sell a house.

Asking for Too Much 

We get it, it’s your home, and you have an asking price you’re desperate to achieve and are hesitant to deviate from.  

Unfortunately, this mentality can be the downfall of your house sale, and it will probably slow down the process to the point of no progression. However, realistic doesn’t mean going too low, and you should keep your asking competitive enough to attract interest and potentially invite a bidding war between buyers.  

It takes on average 44 days to sell a house in the UK, so if you’re struggling to sell yours after this time, or if you haven’t had an offer close to your valuation, it’s time to reconsider your asking price. Speak to an estate agent with access to house prices in your local area for advice. 

Not Being Upfront About Issues 

Hiding issues is a big no-no for selling a house and there may be legal ramifications if you don’t disclose problems to buyers. You’ll be found out when it’s time for valuations and surveys, too, which can slow the selling process significantly.  

Hiding problems with your house also runs the risk of a buyer losing confidence in you and wondering what else is being kept from them. This could see offers being lowered or removed altogether, so be honest with issues and either have them fixed or make them clear to potential buyers.  

Overdeveloping a House 

People tend to think that a house with an extension and extensive renovations will sell better than one without. While this can be the case, you should evaluate the financial ramifications of overdeveloping your property. If it doesn’t add up and you don’t get your money back, it’s time for a rethink. 

Similarly, your home might be worth too much and put buyers off because it’s much more expensive than the average in your area. It’s a balancing act of achieving a price you’re happy with and spending enough to turn a substantial profit.  

Not Accepting Early Offers 

A common misconception is that the first offer you receive for your house should never be taken seriously. Sometimes, however, the perfect offer comes around early, so don’t fool yourself into thinking something better might come along.  

This doesn’t mean you should be hasty and accept any offer that comes your way. Instead, do your due diligence and learn about your buyer’s position and reasons for buying.  

Better yet, speak to your estate agent who will gather this information for you, and you never know, a quick sale might be available at a suitable price soon after putting your house up for sale.

Not Tidying the Property 

Tidying up is one of the easiest ways to improve your chances of achieving a house sale. First impressions matter and nothing leaves a sour taste like a messy home. It’s one of the biggest things that will put off potential buyers, too, so keep things organised and decluttered, and remove personal items if possible.  

As well as tidying your property, it could be worth hiring a professional cleaner to get your house looking as appealing as possible to viewers.  

Selling in Winter 

The value of your property isn’t a set-in-stone figure and instead, it’ll change with the seasons.  

Selling a house in spring, for example, is one of the best times of year to sell a house because there’s more sunlight than in winter. There are also lots of public holidays for viewings and the additional sunlight gives outdoor areas the best chance to shine. A popular moving time is just before summer, too, making spring ideal for selling your property.  

Winter on the other hand is the worst time to sell your home because the opposite of all of the above is true. It’s colder and darker, and people have less money in and around Christmas time. This is a recipe for disaster when selling a property so aim for a spring sale if possible. 

Bad Photography and Marketing 

There are lots of houses for sale in the UK, so you want yours to stand out in a sea of online listings.  

The best way to do this is with professional photography, and while you might think you’re a dab-hand with your camera phone, it’s highly advised to use an estate agency with experience taking high-quality imagery.  

This also extends to the marketing of your property, and it isn’t enough to do it yourself, even if you’re listed with big hitters like Rightmove. A professional estate agent will have your property listed with all the relevant channels and can market it in a way you’ll struggle to do yourself.  

They’ll have a team working on different elements of your listing, such as an engaging description, quality photos, and interesting, additional information about your property that can appeal to more buyers.  

Here at Chancellors, our estate agents have helped countless people sell their homes. Contact us if you would like more information on our selling services. 

Ignoring Kerb Appeal 

Kerb appeal is the visual appeal of the front of your home, which is the first impression anybody has before entering the front door.  

Keep your kerb appeal up to par and the front garden tidy, making sure there are no damaged external pipes, and that windowsills and windows are clean. Also, ensure there’s no chipped or weathered paintwork as this can immediately put buyers off.  

Clean your driveway if you have one and remove weeds and litter from the front of your home if it’s up for sale.  

Restricting Viewings or Doing Them Yourself 

If you’re awkward about your viewing times, buyers will be deterred before they’ve stepped into your property. Instead of being difficult to deal with, be as flexible as possible with your viewings. 

The best piece of advice for viewings is to hire an estate agent as they can carry them out on your behalf if you’re unavailable. Using an estate agent offers potential buyers the opportunity to look at the property without feeling pressure from you, too, which can work heavily in your favour.  

You’ll also leave those emotional attachments and biases at the door when using an estate agent, and even though you might feel like you’re best positioned to sell your own house and its qualities, a professional knows the nuances that turn viewings into offers.  

Not Being Ready to Proceed with the Sale 

Paperwork is the biggest stumbling block for anybody struggling to sell a house, so have yours in order before you put your property up for sale.  

Anything from installation certificates for your appliances to planning permissions can slow down a house sale, so it pays to be prepared. Having all your paperwork together will also instil confidence in potential buyers and your ability to answer questions about your property puts you in good stead for selling it.  

You should also understand the financial implications of selling a property and not be caught short in this regard. For example, you’ll need money for estate agent commissions (although lots accept payment after completion), as well as repair costs, moving expenses, solicitor’s fees, and documentation like EPCs.  

You should also consider the costs of moving house and make sure you can be out of the house you’re selling if an order comes in and a sale is completed.  

Ignoring Maintenance  

Maintenance can include anything from dodgy paintwork to a broken door handle and everything in between.  

Any small issue can deliver a poor first impression, so tackle odd jobs and repairs you can handle without an expert. This extends to the garden, too, and make sure everything is presentable. Weigh up what needs work with how much it costs and consider what not to fix when selling a house.  

Hiring the Wrong Estate Agent 

Estate agents are fantastic for selling a house but only if they’re reputable and reliable. Hiring the wrong estate agent can ruin your chances of selling a home or at the very least, slow you down drastically.  

There are various qualities to look for when finding an estate agent, from understanding the local market to experience selling similar homes to yours, to name a couple. Estate agents should also be honest and have a large list of potential buyers, so ask around, read reviews, and don’t be afraid to ask questions to discover how eligible they are for the task. 

Get all the facts before selecting your estate agent and make sure they’ll be around for the sale. Read our guide for finding the best estate agent for more information.  

Not Accepting the Right Offer 

An often underrated but valuable insight is that the highest offer isn’t always the right offer when selling a house. While this sounds like it couldn’t possibly be the case, immediately accepting the highest offer without understanding why it’s the highest offer could be hugely problematic. 

For example, some buyers submit large offers without the means to pay for the house at that moment in time, which can delay the selling process. They might have to wait for another sale to go through, for example, or seek financing from various sources to afford the property you’re trying to sell. 

So, instead of automatically accepting the biggest offer for your home, consider each offer for its own merits. The result could be a smooth, successful transaction at a price you’re happy with. Speak to your estate agent about the buyer and ensure their motivations and timeframes align with yours.  

Using the Wrong Conveyancing Solicitor 

Just like choosing the wrong estate agent, the wrong conveyancer is a rabbit hole of slow processes and complications.  

From high costs, delays selling the house, and more, check your conveyancer’s reputation before committing to their services and evaluate their communication skills as part of their ability to sell your home. If they’re slow to reply from the offset or something doesn’t feel right in your initial conversations, seek alternatives. 

You should also avoid choosing a conveyancer based solely on price as it’s often a case of getting what you pay for. The better conveyancing solicitors aren’t the cheapest and there are valid reasons for their higher charges, most of the time. So, don’t accept the first conveyancer you speak to, shop around and do some digging to find the right match.  

Not Getting Timing Right 

The longer your home is up for sale, the more reason people have to believe that there are issues with it. This will lead to viewings and enquiries drying up in favour of other properties in your area, so don’t be too casual about how long your property is taking to sell.  

Instead of being laid back, get your sale over the line by being proactive and engaged with the selling process. Take offers seriously and do everything your estate agents and conveyancing solicitors ask to keep things moving in the right direction.  

Sell Your Home With Chancellors 

At Chancellors, we have many years of experience helping people like you sell their homes.  

With a range of selling services that ensure you get a house sale you’re happy with and avoid common mistakes when selling your home, get in touch with one of our branches to get started.