If you’ve been considering selling your home, avoid making these costly mistakes.

Chasing the market by overpricing will cost you big bucks the long run.

Don’t over-improve the property, causing it to fall outside of the proper price range for the neighborhood.

Overlooking the details when preparing the home for sale Know who your competition is, what they offer, how they show, make repairs, de-clutter and clean, clean clean.

Avoid “seller sabotage”. DO NOT stay at the house when it is being shown to prospective buyers. Buyers should be able openly check the property.

Targeted marketing to the right buyer profile. For instance, if you own a 2 bedroom condo on the 3rd floor, it would not be the highest and best use of your advertising dollar to run an ad in a magazine, when your buyer doesn’t look at magazines. You should have the listing featured where the “Gen Y’s” are looking, online.

Don’t responding emotionally to a low ball offer by flat-out rejecting the offer. The buyer took the time to write it, at least take the time to counter it.

I hear often from sellers, that someone offered us this amount. I ask them about the terms of the offer, and they say it was a verbal offer. Don’t waste time with unqualified buyers or those who won’t put it in writing. Typically, there’s a reason they won’t put it in writing first. Can you say “RED FLAG”?

Selling your home “FSBO” or “For Sale By Owner” takes time, requires understanding of real estate contracts, paperwork, marketing materials, advertising and opening your home to strangers.

Signing contract documents without reading the “fine print” or understanding the terms completely, can be very costly. Don’t do it.

By hiring an experienced Real Estate Specialist when selling your largest asset, you should enjoy a smooth transaction and avoid the aforementioned pitfalls