Are you planning to sell a home in Las Vegas? If so, you might not know what pitfalls to avoid. The purpose of this guide is to highlight them for you.
Continue to learn the 11 mistakes to avoid when you sell a home in Las Vegas.
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1. Leaving The House A Mess
A messy, cluttered home sends the wrong message to prospective buyers and can even make them question how well you’ve maintained it. Moreover, personal items should be removed because they distract buyers and make it harder for them to envision themselves in the space.
Some home sellers leave their houses a mess because of the effort involved in the cleanup, but this is a mistake. To make things easier, you can start decluttering before listing your home. This process often takes longer than expected. Many sellers need 1 to 2 months to properly prepare their space.
2. Not Repainting Important Areas
A fresh coat of paint can make your home more attractive and reduce its time on the market. Some sellers skip this step, but it’s usually not a good idea to neglect it.
A simple coat of paint in key areas like the kitchen and the living room can make the difference between a quick sale and a property that lingers unsold. You don’t necessarily have to repaint your entire house, either. Focusing on the most important areas is usually enough.
3. Over-fixing or Under-fixing The House Before Selling
When selling a home, it can be a little difficult to decide what you will and won’t fix. Finding the right balance is obviously crucial, and popular wisdom says to focus on essential repairs while avoiding excessive upgrades.
Critical fixes are usually necessary, whether it’s plumbing, electrical, or structural, unless you’re selling as-is. Low-cost cosmetic improvements, such as fresh paint, are generally always a good idea. However, extensive renovations, kitchen remodels, putting in nice carpet, high-end landscaping—these things can lose money.
That said, a good reason to invest in high-end upgrades is when you’re dealing with high taxes, insurance, HOA fees, etc., and need to sell the home quickly.
4. Taking Bad Photos
Taking bad photos is a common mistake people make when selling a home. It’s generally a good idea to avoid photos taken from a phone unless they’re professionally composed.
Bad photos will make your home look smaller, darker, and less appealing than it really is. For this reason, it’s worth asking your real estate agent how they take photos. You want someone who uses professional equipment and knows how to beautifully showcase your home.
Good photos require proper lighting, careful staging, and the right angles to make rooms look spacious and inviting. Amateur photos that are blurry, poorly lit, or show cluttered spaces can make buyers skip your listing entirely. Photos are usually a buyer’s first impression of your home.
5. Getting Too Emotional or Personal During the Sale Process
It’s easy to get emotional when selling your home, especially when it comes to the price. Many sellers get so attached to a certain number that they may even get offended when buyers make offers below their asking price or when their agent suggests a lower listing price.
A good way to counteract this tendency is to look at your home through a buyer’s lens. Review the sales data for similar properties, and work with an agent who will give you an honest market analysis.
At the same time, you don’t want to short yourself. It’s a balancing act, and the best way to stay objective is to take the personal and the emotional out of the equation.
6. Communicating Poorly with Your Agent
Poor communication can lead to missed opportunities and misunderstandings. When you’re hard to reach, it can even extend your home’s time on the market.
A good solution is to agree with your agent on how you’ll communicate (by phone, email, or text) and how quickly you’ll respond. Also, make regular check-ins with your agent to discuss feedback from showings and potential strategy changes. This will help keep your home sale on track.
7. Accepting an Offer without Knowing Contingencies
Another mistake home sellers make is not knowing (or understanding) what the contingencies are in the offers they receive. These can include the buyer needing to sell their current home before the sale can close, the need to secure financing, or getting a satisfactory home inspection.
Contingencies of this kind can delay your sale or even cause it to fall through. Be especially wary of offers contingent on the buyer selling their current home. This can leave you waiting when time is crucial. It’s a good idea to review all contingencies carefully before accepting any offer.
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8. Ignoring Market Timing
When you list your home, the market timing matters. For example, some sellers make the mistake of listing alongside too many other offers in their area, which creates too much competition. This most frequently happens during seasonal peaks and when mortgage forbearance periods end.
More homes for sale means buyers have more choices and can be pickier with their offers. They might ask for more contingencies or offer lower prices. The best strategy is to watch the market and, when possible, list your home when there’s less competition from other sellers in your area.
» MORE: Best Time To Sell A House – What Month?
9. Not Reading the Fine Print
Not reading the fine print before signing a contract is a big mistake. After all, some contracts contain surprising clauses that sellers don’t expect.
Pay special attention to any sections about timeline commitments and what happens if you decide to rent instead of sell. And remember, you can negotiate these terms, so don’t feel pressured to accept the contract if certain clauses don’t work for you.
10. Hiring the Wrong Inspector
It may be a mistake to choose the inspector recommended by your real estate agent; these types of inspectors may overlook issues so they can keep getting referrals. Bear in mind not all recommended inspectors act like this, but it can happen.
Hiring an independent inspector with good reviews who is known for being thorough and who works directly for you is generally a safer bet and helps you avoid a conflict of interest. They’ll provide detailed reports with photos and documentation of any issues they find.
An unbiased, detailed inspection report strengthens your position as a seller because, when issues are identified upfront, you can either address them before listing or factor them into the initial pricing. This prevents buyers from using surprise findings as leverage to drastically reduce the price later.
11. Mismanaging the Buy-Sell Timeline
One of the trickier parts of selling your home is coordinating the timing with your next purchase.
If you buy first, you might get stuck paying two mortgages at once. If you sell first and don’t have your next home lined up, you might need temporary housing.
Talk with your agent about strategies that can help you avoid these situations.
Sell A Home in Las Vegas with the Real Estate Guy
Ready to sell your home, avoid the mistakes, and do things the right way? We have the expertise to guide you through a smooth, successful sale in the Las Vegas area. Contact The Real Estate Guy to get started.
About The Real Estate Guy
The Real Estate Guy, led by Aaron Taylor, is a trusted name in Las Vegas real estate. The Real Estate Guy has sold over 7,000 homes totaling $3 billion in sales while building a reputation on putting clients first and maintaining long-term relationships that often span decades. Our team of 30 members provides comprehensive services, including traditional home sales, property management, short sales, and cash purchases.
What sets us apart is a commitment to the Las Vegas community. Beyond real estate transactions, The Real Estate Guy actively supports local charities, feeds families in need, sponsors local sports teams, and hosts client appreciation events. We offer unique services like interest-free cash advances to sellers and provide extensive support to both buyers and sellers throughout the entire process.
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