Your home is probably the largest single investment you have. So it’s imperative that when it’s time to sell you maximize that investment. You give your real estate the same careful scrutiny as the rest of your portfolio- right? You would think so. But often when talking to home sellers I hear the five most dangerous words in home sales- “Let’s just wait and see.” These words lead to the four largest mistakes in real estate sales.
1. “ Let’s just wait and see. Maybe we don’t need to paint or fix the screen doors or do other needed repairs. Buyers won’t mind a few small jobs. They don’t expect perfection.”
Actually, buyers do expect perfection. With the inventory on the market today they can be choosy. Don’t leave a to- do list for buyers, they often overestimate the cost of repairs and want to take off many times that cost in their offer- if they make one.
2. “Let’s just wait and see. Maybe we don’t need to price it as our realtor says. If we go higher we can always negotiate down- or if we go lower we can sell faster.”
Realtors are the professionals. They know the market and will do an in depth study of what your home is worth and how best to price it. Time and offers can be lost in a home not priced appropriately.

3. “Let’s just wait and see. Maybe we don’t need all the marketing the realtor wants to do. The new listing on MLS will create all the buzz we need.”
See #2. There are so many ways to market your property and realtors know the most cost effective and productive ways to do that. Come on the market with a strong marketing strategy. Don’t try to play catch up.

4. “Let’s just wait and see. Maybe we can sell it without hiring a stager. It looks pretty good and everyone will love our decorating.”
If you had a $50,000 car to sell, would you take it to a detailer before you put it on the market? Undoubtedly. How many times the price of that fictional car is your home worth? Professional home stagers know how to present your home in the best way to attract the widest interest and bring in offers. Statistics show that professionally staged homes sell 50% faster and on the average, 6% more.
Alan Lakein said, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Nothing could be more true in selling your home. Don’t wait and see. Plan, Prepare, Sell!

Sandy Gardner
Commonwealth Staging LLC
http:/www.commonwealthstaging.com