Nine common mistakes homeowners make when selling their property

With house prices falling fast you may be wondering whether now is the right time to sell your home.

For some, there will be no choice but to move – perhaps due to a new job, a relationship breakdown, or some other change in circumstances.

If you are planning on putting your home on the market, one of the key things to bear in mind is that house-hunters tend to spend an average of just 10 minutes looking around a property, so you don’t have long to make a good first impression.

Here, Telegraph Money sets out the most common mistakes made by sellers, which might reduce your selling price – or could put off buyers altogether.

1. Letting emotions get in the way

One of the most common mistakes people make when selling a home is allowing their emotions to come into play. 

James Forrester, managing director of estate agent Barrows and Forrester, said: “This is understandable when it comes to selling a personal asset, and one that may have played host to life milestones such as marriage and kids and so on, but you must do all you can to avoid this.”

One trick is to declutter and depersonalise your home.

Mr Forrester said: “Not only will buyers prefer a more neutral canvas when viewing, but it can also help you detach from the space during the selling process.”

At the same time, try not to let emotion cloud your judgment when it comes to setting a realistic asking price.

Mr Forrester added: “The memories made in your home may be priceless, but your home itself isn’t.”

2. Choosing the wrong estate agent

Take care not to fall into the trap of simply going with the agent suggesting the highest asking price or offering the lowest fee. Your focus needs to be on opting for the best local agent with the best selling performance.

Remember that agents might promise the world when it comes to the asking price simply to beat other agents to your listing, before later advising you to lower it in order to sell. If an agent is quoting you a widely higher price than the rest, it could be a sure sign they aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

Base your decision on key aspects such as time to sell and percentage of asking price achieved.

Equally, tread very carefully before ditching the estate agent and opting to do it yourself, as while this may be the cheaper option it can often be a lot more difficult than you imagined, and can end up taking a lot longer.

3. Asking too much for your property

Tempting as it may be to price your home high, know that an overpriced property can end up sitting on the market for longer than necessary.

Be realistic, and price in line with market values.

Nicky Stevenson, managing director from estate agent group Fine & Country, said: “The key is to price your property right from the outset. Those that do will see strong interest from buyers and sell much more quickly.”

Be sure to get a few valuations from different agents, and do your own research too. This includes checking out ‘sold price data’ from the Land Registry.

Remember that most properties have a blight or compromise, so factor that into the price.

4. Selling during the winter

Give some thought to when you market your property, as you want to do that when it has the greatest chance of selling.

According to Rightmove, early spring is when you’re likely to have the most luck, with the number of buyers enquiring about homes for sale usually the highest at this time of the year.

The more competition there is between buyers, the better price you are likely to achieve.

Adam Day from estate agent platform, eXp UK, said: “Winter is often considered the worst time to list your house. The days are shorter, your home is less photogenic, and buyer activity is stifled due to the Christmas period.”

5. Showing potential buyers around yourself

While you might think you know your home better than anyone, don’t kid yourself into thinking you are the best person to host viewings. This process is usually best left to a professional.

Marc von Grundherr, director of estate agent Benham and Reeves, said: “For starters, you may neglect some of the vital aspects of your home that add value in the eyes of a buyer. You also need to make yourself readily available, which many people struggle to do in the modern world with work and family commitments.”

As a seller, you may not want to hear what a potential buyer is saying about your home – particularly as selling is often very emotive.

Mr von Grundherr added: “It’s hard to remain neutral, and negative comments or disinterest from potential buyers can be hard to handle.”

In many cases, viewings conducted by the homeowner can go on way too long, and it’s often not possible to have an open and honest conversation.

6. Not maintaining standards

Some of the biggest turn-offs for potential buyers include cleanliness and odour.

Don’t make the mistake of cutting corners when it comes to the general hygiene of your home. Be prepared to put the effort in for every single viewing, as first impressions are critical.

Mr von Grundherr said: “A messy, unkempt home could actually end up costing you as much as 10pc during the negotiation process.”

Make decluttering a priority, and if it takes a while for your home to sell, ensure the clutter doesn’t start to creep back again.

7. Not accepting viewings

Turning down viewings is a big no-no – when it’s not a seller’s market you can’t afford to miss an opportunity.

Guy Meacock, director of buying agency Prime Purchase, said: “It’s hugely frustrating when the vendor goes away on holiday and doesn’t give the agent a key to facilitate viewings.”

You also need to be flexible on when viewings can occur.

Mr Meacock added: “Saying no because a friend is coming to lunch, or that you can only do 3.05pm on Wednesdays is damaging. Eventually, buyers will move on to another property where they can get access.”

8. Having bad photos

If you’re not happy with the photos you get back from your estate agent, don’t think potential buyers will see them any differently.

Findings from House Buyer Bureau reveal 86pc of homebuyers browsing online listings will choose to view a listing in full because the first photo shown makes a good impression.

Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau, said: “In the modern age where the online listing is the new estate agent’s window, having bad photography is unforgivable.”

Ask for better pictures and wait for a sunny day to get the best results. If you’re not getting interested buyers, ask for different shots to be taken to see if that makes a difference.

Mr Hodgkinson added: “When it comes to the initial attraction that will get potential buyers through the door for a viewing, good photos are vital.”

9. Not giving the agent all the details

Don’t make the error of failing to give your agent all the information they need about your property.

Make sure, for example, they know whether or not there’s a parking space, or if there’s access to the communal gardens.

Buyers will only get frustrated if the agent repeatedly replies to their questions with an “I don’t know.”

A successful property sale boils down to preparation.

Mr Meacock said: “In this market, where the balance is tipping towards buyers to varying degrees, be grateful for the interest. If the information isn’t there, buyers will go elsewhere.”