The most costly mistakes to avoid when selling a home in 2024
Samantha is a Sydney-based real estate and home improvement writer. She is currently Head of Marketing at OpenAgent.
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If the thought of selling a property fills you with dread, you’re not alone. In fact, according to a Zillow Group report, 95 per cent of vendors find at least some aspect of selling a property stressful. With so many things to organise and think about, feeling the pressure is completely understandable.
Let’s face it, the whole reason selling a house is so stressful is because there’s a lot at stake. After all, your property is one of your biggest assets, so getting the most out of your sale is important for your financial security.
The unmatched FOMO we saw in 2021 has changed, with buyers finding themselves with more choice and negotiating power. That means it's even more important now to capitalise on certain parts of the selling process to achieve success. Get these steps wrong, and the mistakes could be costly.
Wondering what you need to do as a seller? We spoke to two of Australia’s top agents about the common traps to avoid to make sure you get the most out of your sale with the least amount of stress possible.
1. Not presenting the property in the best light
Make no mistake, maximising the presentation of your property is really important. When buyers view a property, they need to be able to see themselves living there or imagine a tenant being happy there.
First-time sellers can often overlook this important strategy and scratch their heads in confusion when they aren’t getting much buyer interest. At the very least, you’ll need to:
- Declutter and de-personalise. That means removing personal effects like family photographs, trophies and quirky keepsakes.
- Refresh the space with some minor repairs and cosmetic renovations like a lick of paint, carpet cleaning, and replacement of common fixtures.
- Do a deep clean, because astute buyers will investigate every nook and cranny — and take it from us, even if your property is old, showing it’s been well-maintained counts for a lot.
- Basic gardening — we’re talking pruning, mulching, mowing etc.
Whether you choose to stage your property or not will depend on your individual goals and market — for this important decision, we’d advise you to look at the presentation of similar homes on the market and speak to your chosen real estate agent, but it's something you should always at least consider.
Find out how much it costs to stage your home in 2024.
2. Overcapitalising on renovations and repairs
But hold on a second — not all properties will benefit from renovations and repairs, so it’s important to make sure you’re not spending money that won’t be recouped through the sale.
How do you know whether your property would benefit from a bit of sprucing up or not? According to top Melbourne real estate agent and auctioneer John Costanzo, it depends on the condition of competing properties in the same market and price range, the strength of the market and the balance of supply and demand in the area.
While Mr Costanzo notes that properties that are in a state of absolute disrepair won’t benefit from a coat of paint (and we’re talking properties with holes in the walls or floors), the vast majority of buyers want a home that’s in move-in condition.
“You can limit the number of buyers who might be attracted to your home by not making repairs," he says.
“Smart sellers will weigh the cost of the proposed improvements against the home’s market value after the repairs or upgrades are completed.
“Such an improvement might not be warranted if an upgrade won’t return the investment."
Mr Constanzo urges sellers to compare homes in the neighbourhood to your own. If most of them have upgraded kitchens and you’re wanting to achieve a similar price, these homes are your competition.
“This doesn’t mean you have to buy designer appliances and tear out the cabinets, but a minor kitchen remodel might be a good investment," he explains.
“Sometimes simply painting oak cabinets a darker colour and installing updated hardware can give your kitchen an all-new look.”
3. Choosing the wrong agent or not choosing an agent at all
This mistake can be one of the most costly, and in the current market, it’s even more critical to find the right agent to represent you and the sale of your home.
Owner and Selling Principal of Ray White Nerang, Clint Hynes, says that it's vital to find an agent who will give excellent service to any prospective buyers.
According to Mr Hynes, it’s become even more important to choose an agent with incredible customer service skills to be able to manage and stay on top of all buyer enquiries.
“In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had a couple of buyers on the phone to me nearly in tears because agents weren’t giving them the time of day, and that’s what’s going on," he says.
His advice is to go for agencies with more manpower, who have the resources to ensure that anyone who shows interest in your property is contacted and followed-up with.
“You want to find agents who work in teams, as a team model — those who have assistants and who work with other franchises. There’s no way that one single agent can catch up at an open home that’s being overrun by over 100 people.
“At our agency, we work in a team, so at open homes, this allows us to be able to talk to everyone in attendance,” he says.
Read our guide to choosing the right agent for your sale.
4. Pricing your home unrealistically
According to a survey by real estate giant HomeLight, 70 per cent of real estate agents say that overpricing is the number one mistake that sellers make.
It’s crucial to set a realistic (and legal) price guide for your home, because if buyers come through and the property is overpriced, they’ll tend to disregard it, even if you drop the price on the property later.
“There’s nothing stopping you from dropping your price later, but this can be a matter of too little, too late,” says Mr Costanzo.
Mr Costanzo also notes that, generally speaking, demand and interest for properties also tends to wane after 21 days on the market, so pricing appropriately is important during the home’s most appealing period on the market.
You may also find that, by enticing buyers with a sensible, down-to-earth price, your property will generate multiple offers and create enough competition to bid the property up to a higher value.
5. Look for an agent who instils confidence and cares about your next step
Whether you’re looking to upsize, downsize or even rent for a while, finding an agent who cares about the next step in your property journey goes a long way in a market where stock is lower than usual.
Mr Hynes says these discussions are always important before he gets started working with vendors so he can help them secure their next home, whether that’s a rental or to buy.
“People ask, ‘is it the right time to sell?’ I say, ‘yes, the market is buoyant and you’ll get good money, but what does your journey look like?’" he says.
“We’re helping people look for their next purchase, or to get into rental properties - but the rental market is tight as well.
“Customer service is what people should be looking for right now; find someone who will not just answer the telephone, but who will also help with your next step."
According to Mr Hynes, when you're moving through such an important and stressful period in your life, having vetted recommendations on hand can make all the difference.
"When people are selling and trying to sort out their lives, they're looking for tradesmen, conveyancers, great mortgage brokers or a great solicitor.
"The best agents out there are a one-stop shop - and it means that when people go out onto the market, they don't feel that knot in their stomach, going, 'are we doing the right thing?'"
Mr Hynes explains that instead, when you have a good agent with a good network on board, you're more proactive around all the steps involved in getting a property sold — and it's because you're more confident and in control.
“That's how my sellers feel - they're 110 per cent in control,” he says. “They've got their hands on the steering wheel, we're just the gears and the accelerator.”
Mr Hynes says at the end of the day, the best agents give people more of their time.
“They’ve got more empathy and they make that extra effort, and that’s the kind of agent or team you want to list with.”
