Selling your house, first time?
Is the idea of selling your house for the first time having you stressed out? Between pricing, showings, negotiations, and paperwork, there’s so much to do!
Here’s the thing…
According to a new survey from Open Door, 79% of first-time home sellers admit they made mistakes while selling their home.
And those mistakes cost them thousands of dollars.
Here’s the good news: Most of these mistakes can be completely avoided. When you know what NOT to do before listing your home, you’ll be leagues ahead of most first-time home sellers.
In this guide, you’ll learn the most common first-time seller mistakes and exactly how to avoid them. Let’s dive in!
Here’s what you’re about to discover:
- The Biggest Pricing Mistake First-Time Sellers Make
- Why You Need An Agent (Even If You Think You Don’t)
- The Home Prep Mistakes That Kill Your Sale
- Getting Your Timing Right
The Biggest Pricing Mistake First-Time Sellers Make
Do you know the fastest way to sabotage your home sale?
Price it too high.
Overpricing is the #1 mistake that first-time sellers make. And it makes sense, really — of course you want to get top dollar for your home.
The problem? When you price your home too high, buyers simply scroll past your listing.
Buyers are working with real estate agents who are showing them comparable sales. They know exactly what other homes in your area are actually worth. If your home is $20,000 overpriced compared to similar properties, buyers will skip it.
And then this happens…
Your home sits on the market. Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. Eventually, you get desperate and drop the price.
By that point, buyers are wondering what’s wrong with your house.
Listings that price competitively find a buyer in 31 days while overpriced homes languish on the market for 73 days or more.
That’s more than twice as long on market.
If you’re looking to sell your house fast in Omaha, getting the pricing right is absolutely critical. The longer your home sits unsold, the more desperate you appear to buyers — and the lower the offers will be.
How To Price Your Home The Right Way
Take a look at comparable homes in your neighborhood. Not the homes that are currently listed, the homes that actually sold in the last 3-6 months.
The sold prices tell you what buyers are actually willing to pay for a home like yours.
A good real estate agent will pull you a comparative market analysis (CMA). It takes the guesswork out of pricing and gives you a data-backed number to work from.
Don’t price your home based on what you need to make from the sale. Price it based on what the market will actually pay.
Why You Need An Agent (Even If You Think You Don’t)
It’s a common mistake that first-time home sellers make to think they can skip working with a real estate agent.
Selling a home is more complicated than most people think. You have to handle paperwork, negotiations, inspections, appraisals, and a million other little details that need to be done properly.
An experienced real estate agent has market knowledge, pricing expertise, and negotiation experience. They can handle difficult conversations so you don’t have to, and they keep everything on track from listing to closing.
Plus, most buyers are working with agents. Their agent will be showing them your home, so do you really want to be the one answering all their difficult questions?
Agents also have access to the MLS, which is where most buyers find homes.
The Home Prep Mistakes That Kill Your Sale
Your home is your castle. You’ve been living there for years. It’s comfortable. It’s familiar. It’s your home.
Buyers need to be able to see themselves living there. And they can’t do that if your personal stuff is all over the place.
72% of sellers make at least one home improvement before listing, according to Zillow. Some of the most popular projects include painting, bathroom and kitchen improvements, and landscaping.
Declutter Like Your Sale Depends On It
Because it does.
Remove family photos, personal collections, and excess furniture. You want buyers to be thinking “I could live here” when they walk through your home, not “this is someone else’s house.”
Pack up about 30-50% of your belongings before listing. It makes your home look bigger, cleaner, and more inviting.
Don’t Skip The Deep Clean
Buyers see dirt or clutter during a showing, they’ll assume the home hasn’t been well maintained.
Clean everything. Baseboards, cabinets, windows, carpets, and especially kitchens and bathrooms need to sparkle.
First impressions happen quickly. A clean home gives buyers the impression it’s been well cared for.
Curb Appeal Matters More Than You Think
The outside of your home is the first thing buyers see when they pull up. For that reason, 44% of sellers spruce up their landscaping before listing.
Mow the lawn. Trim the bushes. Power wash the driveway. Touch up the paint on the front door if needed.
Getting Your Timing Right
One of the most common questions new sellers ask is “When is the best time to list?”
In most markets, the answer is going to be spring and early summer. Families want to move during the summer months so they can move during the summer school break. The weather is nice, so buyers are out actively looking. Showings are easy.
But here’s the most important factor…
Being ready.
Don’t be so excited to list that you put your home on the market before it’s properly prepared.
Be Flexible With Showings
One of the biggest mistakes first-time sellers make is being too picky about showing times.
Buyers want to see your home at 6 PM on a Tuesday and you say no? They’ll just go look at another property and they might never come back.
Make your home available for as many showings as possible. Every showing is a potential buyer, and you only need one buyer.
Emotional Mistakes To Avoid
Selling your first home is an emotional process. There are likely years of memories there.
The problem is, as soon as you list your home, it stops being your home.
It becomes a product that you are selling.
Don’t take low offers personally. Don’t get offended by buyer feedback. Don’t hover around buyers during showings.
Stay objective.
Remember, your goal is to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest amount of time. That means thinking like a business person, not a homeowner.
Final Thoughts On Your First Sale
Selling your home for the first time doesn’t have to be a stressful process. By simply avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll already be ahead of most first-time home sellers.
Quick recap:
- Price your home based on data, not emotions
- Work with a qualified real estate agent
- Prepare your home properly for sale
- Be flexible with showings and timing
- Keep your emotions in check
The sellers who get the best results are the ones who prepare their homes properly, price their homes right, and stay focused on their end goal.
After spending years as a homeowner, it’s common for sellers to get emotionally attached to their home. Remember, this is a business transaction. Approach it like a business person and you’ll get the results you want.