Selling 101: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home in Central Florida

five mistakes to avoid when selling your home in central florida

You’re almost at the finish line and are ready to close the sale of your home. You’ve made it through most of the steps of the selling process and have found a qualified home buyer, but your work isn’t done yet!

Check out these common selling mistakes you should avoid during the closing process when selling your home in Central Florida.

Refusing to Negotiate

Remember that your goals as a home seller and the goals of the home buyer are different. While you may be concerned about getting the best offer on your home and one that will give you a nice return on your investment, the home buyer is more often concerned about getting a fair price and maybe even saving money.

Your listing price may differ from the buyer’s offer. Be willing to negotiate with a potential buyer and lean on your REALTOR® for advice when accepting an offer.

Ignoring Contingencies

A contingency is a clause in the contract with your buyer that allows the buyer to pull out of the sale if certain criteria aren’t met, which is why it’s so important not to ignore them. Go over your contract with your REALTOR® and discuss what contingencies, if any, are included. If the contingencies have a deadline, make sure you’re sticking to them.

Leaving Needed Repairs Unfinished

As the seller, it may be your responsibility to make needed repairs to your home before closing - especially if this is something you’ve agreed to do and is a contingency in your contract. Ensuring you are fulfilling the terms of the contract is important for both parties, and repairs negotiated in the transaction can sometimes become a big issue if not properly addressed. You wouldn’t want the buyer to see that you’ve neglected to make repairs during a final walk-through, as this could derail the entire sale of your home. If the buyer loses trust in you or they feel your home isn’t as described, it could cause them to pull out of the sale.

Your best bet is to make all the repairs necessary and have your REALTOR® keep the buyer’s agent in the loop of any repairs that are made while you are under contract.

Unknown or Ignored Liens

Was your roof replaced? Did you install a pool? Did you hire a contractor for that home renovation? These are all normal parts of homeownership, but each of these improvements could also result in a lien being filed on your home if not carefully watched and addressed at the time of completion. Remember, contractors have the ability to record a mechanic’s lien on your home for work they have done as a way of ensuring they are paid for their work.

As a homeowner, not knowing what liens have been filed on your home can become a major issue when selling your home in Central Florida. Your REALTOR® will know exactly what to check, how to negotiate the terms of your contract, and who to work with to ensure an unknown or ignored lien doesn’t become an impediment to the sale of your home.

Letting Deadlines Pass

Contingencies aren’t the only things with strict deadlines. You’ll also have deadlines for things like deposits, inspections, loan application, title commitment, the appraisal, and much more. Letting deadlines pass early in the selling process can create delays later on. Your best bet is to get things done a couple of days earlier than scheduled. This way, you have plenty of wiggle room in case something doesn’t go according to plan.

Selling your home is exciting, but it takes a lot of work and attention to detail. Your REALTOR® will know what steps to take at every stage of the selling process. By working together, you’ll be better prepared to have a successful sale of your home and an easy transition to your next home.