For first-time sellers (and sometimes even for veterans), selling a home can be an overwhelming, emotionally draining undertaking. If, however, you avoid certain things, you’ll be far more likely to sell your house for the most money in Buffalo. Skirt the five pitfalls described below, and you just might sell your house for the most money possible for your home and within a reasonable time.
Selling your home in Buffalo is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make, and small missteps can cost you thousands. While many sellers focus on what they should do, knowing what not to do is just as important when your goal is to sell your house for the most money.
If you’re planning to list your home in Buffalo, avoid these five common mistakes that can hurt your sale price, delay your closing, or scare off qualified buyers.
1. Don’t Skimp on Photos
We now live in a visual age, and there’s no getting around it. So, today, most home buyers do their shopping online, at least in the early stages. The sad fact is a lot of the photos in online listings are poor quality. If you provide plenty of crisp, quality photos, your house will stand out from the others and will generate plenty of interest.
First impressions matter — and buyers start forming opinions before they even step inside. Poor curb appeal can reduce perceived value, even if the interior of the home looks great.
Simple curb appeal improvements in Buffalo include:
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Trimming bushes and maintaining the lawn
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Power washing siding and walkways
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Repainting or cleaning the front door
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Replacing worn house numbers or light fixtures
These low-cost updates can significantly impact how buyers view your home’s value.
Take your photos during the day when there’s adequate natural lighting. Also, be sure your numerous photos display your home to its best advantage and highlight its selling features.
2. Don’t Sell in Winter
Avoid listing your home in the winter, especially during the holiday season, because this is a painfully slow time for home sales. Obviously, people are busy with social activities, and the cold weather drives them indoors. The upshot is that there will be fewer people looking at your home, it will likely take longer to sell it, and there’s a chance you won’t get the price you want.
3. Don’t Get Emotionally Involved
It’s tough to give up and sell a home you’ve been living in for several years because you have an undeniable emotional attachment. But you’ve got to let that go.
The trick is to think of yourself now as a business person, a home seller, rather than as a home owner who is selling a home. Try to take a strictly financial view of matters to create distance between you and the home you’ve lived in and made memories in.
Also, try to think about things from the buyer’s perspective. They’re not just buying a piece of property with a structure on it, but a dream and a new life. You’re doing something good for them, which will reduce your own emotional attachment and so help you sell your house for the most money in Buffalo.
4. Don’t Fail to Use an Agent
Sure real estate agents take a small slice of the pie, but there are good reasons, and a good one is well worth their price. Trying to sell your home on your own is generally not a good idea. And in most cases, an agent will help you get a better price.
Agents understand all the legal intricacies and ramifications of the home-sale transaction. They also know how to deal with the mountain of paperwork involved and the problems that inevitably come up in the process. Further, agents are the ones who will spend their time dealing with potential buyers and the tiresome tire-kickers.
5. Don’t Ask an Unrealistic Price
Certainly, you want to sell your house for the most money in Buffalo, but you also have to be realistic. Simply put, overpriced homes just don’t sell.
A comparable market analysis is key here to avoid egregious overpricing. You can even use your market analysis to underprice your home a bit to generate more interest and multiple offers, which can then (in theory) encourage the many interested buyers to bid up the price.
Sell Smarter to Get the Most From Your Home
Selling your house for the most money in Buffalo isn’t about luck — it’s about strategy. By avoiding these common mistakes, you put yourself in a stronger position to attract buyers, negotiate confidently, and close successfully.
Whether you’re selling traditionally or considering alternative options, understanding the local market and preparing your home properly can make all the difference.
If you want to sell your house for the most money in [market city], then don’t do the five things listed in this article. While that’s a good start, there’s still a lot more to it.