Successfully selling your home: What not to do

When it comes to selling your Surfers Paradise property, there are plenty of things you should do. Some of these may seem obvious, others not so much. Of course, it's all well and good to have a clear idea of how to approach the sale of your home – but what about the flip side? Are there things that you shouldn't do to help facilitate your selling success? 

Here are some of the common pitfalls that people trying to sell their property can fall into. Avoiding these common problems can help you make a successful transaction as soon as possible, allowing you to reap the rewards of the real estate market sooner rather than later. 

Listing your home without an asking price

Nothing will annoy potential buyers more than not being able to marry their budget to your asking price. Without a clear idea of what they are expected to offer up for your home, this can lead to people simply not bothering with the property and moving on to the next one. 

While it may seem like a good idea to keep the price an open book, providing them with little to no idea is worse. That's the idea behind negotiation – putting out an asking price and then working together with your agents to come to an agreeable solution. 

Therefore, getting a property valuation and posting a solid asking price can help you get buyers through the door and engaged in a dialogue. This is the first step towards a sale, so take the time to properly advertise your home. 

Not researching your real estate agent

This can be a difficult issue to recognise and an even harder thing to solve. When it comes to choosing a real estate agent, looking for someone with strong communication skills, great negotiation tactics, and who is able to help people achieve their goals. 

Of course, sometimes agents can be a little too forceful. If you're finding buyers go cold or show less interest as time goes by, it could be worth chatting with your agent to figure out if there's a problem on their end. Remember: Your agent is there to help you sell your home, so it's always good for them to treat potential buyers with professionalism and respect.

Being a clingy seller

On the flip side, being a needy and pushy vendor can be just as big of a turn off. Selling your home should be an impersonal transaction, so getting emotionally invested in buyers or prices can make things difficult in the long run.

For example, hovering around open inspections and being a nuisance to those checking out the property is a big no no. Stepping back and letting your agent do their job is a good approach to take. Being on hand to maybe answer questions could be a good idea, but relegate this till after the open inspection has finished, otherwise people may feel watched and uncomfortable.

Unflattering/no photos on the listing

With the rising number of properties being listed on online websites, marketing your home is a combination of smart descriptions to wet the appetite and photos to back up your claims. However, if you're lacking photos, this can send bad signals to potential buyers before they even decide to visit your home. 

Furthermore, unflattering photos can be equally as bad. Your real estate agent should be able to suggest the best places and angles to take pictures to present your home in the best possible light. Capturing potential buyers through the internet is a major part of selling real estate these days, so mastering the marketing techniques required can make a huge difference.