They say hindsight is 20/20 right? But still, no one wants to go through life feeling like they’ve made mistakes. It’s one thing to realize that maybe acid wash jeans weren’t an everlasting trend after all or to find out that bangs really didn’t suit your face after your trip to the salon. 

However, one mistake you likely won’t be looking back on with rose-coloured glasses is not doing everything you can to make sure your next home sale is as profitable as possible. 

Selling a Toronto home is almost a science, and some missteps could end up costing you. 

Here are the top mistakes we see sellers make, and how to avoid them!

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1. They Take the Spirit of DIY a Little Too Far

Today’s generation is all about DIY, and why wouldn’t we be? Many of us remember watching Trading Spaces or Extreme Home Makeover so the concept of DIY is something we just love. The peel-and-stick wallpaper industry alone is a testament to our loBut one area where you absolutely need to hire a professional is when selling your home. 

Yes, some people decide to sell their own home (also known as FSBO or For Sale By Owner) but those sales are rarely as successful as they would be with an experienced Realtor® at the helm.

Why? 

Simply put, a real estate professional has the tools and resources to help you maximize your sale, get more for your home, and protect your best interests throughout the entire transaction.

Although you will pay a commission to the agent, you’ll likely end up netting more for your sale and you won’t have to worry about finding a buyer, negotiating, or finalizing all the paperwork (trust us, there is A LOT of paperwork). 

Looking for the right Toronto real estate agent to sell your home? Discover how we help sellers here.

2. They Don’t Stage the Property

Don’t get us wrong, your home is probably beautiful. But staging is more than just arranging furniture in an eye-pleasing way. Agents and professional stagers know all your home’s best angles and exactly which pieces will highlight features that buyers will absolutely love. 

Staging is all about creating space, selling a lifestyle, and ensuring your home’s presentation is top-notch. A well-staged home not only sells faster than a non-staged home, but it also sells for more money. 

Now, this doesn’t mean that every single home for sale needed to be gutted completely and staged. A good agent and stager will assess your home and provide a strategy to maximize your staging to be impactful but also reasonable. 

If you’re wondering how to make your home stand out, read these blogs next: 

• Modern Toronto Upgrades that are Totally Worth It
• 5 Features that Can Make or Break Your Modern Toronto Home

3. They Skimp on the Photos 

How many pictures do you look at on any given day? Between work, television, and scrolling Instagram or Facebook, chances are, you look at a lot. 

But of those thousands of images passing through your various screens, how many of them actually make an impact on you? For most people, the answer is probably far fewer. 

That’s why it’s more important than ever to have images that stand out. That means putting away the iPhone and investing some time and money in professional photos. Your real estate agent will organize this for you (remember that commission we talked about before?) and they will ensure your home looks amazing, photographs well, and absolutely stands out among the competition. 

4. They Let Their Intuition Pick the Price 

Pricing a home for sale is a science. There are so many factors to consider, and as a homeowner, you might be a little biased about your home’s value. 

Real estate agents consider things like comparable sales, market fluctuations, and our own valuable experience to help guide what we think will work from a pricing perspective. We even take into consideration pricing strategy, for example, listing at a lower price to potentially trigger a bidding war. 

As a homeowner, you might not be as in-tune with these factors and your emotional attachment to the home could get the best of you. When a home isn’t priced properly from the outset, it could sit on the market for too long, resulting in low activity, fewer offers, and an unsuccessful sale. 

Looking for more resources to help you sell your home? Check out these posts next: 

• Pricing Secrets You Should Know Before Selling Your Toronto Condo
• 5 Signs It’s Time to Ditch Your Toronto Condo
• When Should Seniors Sell Their Homes?

5. They Don’t Work with a Local Expert 

Selling your home can get pretty complicated. Especially if you’re trying to do it all yourself. But another consideration you should make is the specific agent you choose to work with. It might be tempting to work with a loved one or a friend who just so happens to be a real estate agent.

Thinking of hiring your BFF to sell your home? Find out why that might not be a great idea with this post right here. 

The best way to find a quality real estate agent to sell your home is to do your research and go with the person who checks off at least all of these boxes: 

• They have experience selling real estate in your neighbourhood.
• They’re well-versed in selling properties similar to yours. 
• You can find good reviews and testimonials from past clients.
• They listen to your questions, answer, and give off overall good vibes. 

If you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future, give us a call! We’re always happy to help. You can text or call me at 647-973-8392 today!