8 Mistakes People Make When Selling Their Home in Bozeman

1. Pricing too high

Pricing a home too high is one of the biggest mistakes people make when selling their home in Bozeman. Many sellers think because the market is strong they can price their home high, leaving room for negotiations, but this is a big mistake. Pricing your home too high means it could sit on the market longer than it should and this will quickly become apparent to buyers. You will lose your leverage and you may end up getting even less for the home than if you had priced correctly to begin with. 

To price your home correctly, a real estate agent will pull the sold prices of comparable homes in your neighborhood, take your home's unique features and updates into account, and determine the price accordingly. Montana is a non-disclosure state, meaning sold prices are not available to the public so you will need to work with an agent to determine an accurate price for your home. Click here to find out what your home is worth.

2. Not using a REALTOR®

Did you know that for sale by owners sell for an average of 30% less than homes that are listed with a real estate agent? A REALTOR® will help you price your home correctly, expose it to potential buyers, and help you navigate the paperwork, offers, and contracts. As you enter into a real estate transaction you will find that a well-educated, hardworking REALTOR® is well worth their commission. This has become even more of a necessity in Bozeman's wild real estate market. Right now when a home comes on the market in Bozeman there are dozens of showings right away, multiple offers, inspection negotiations, etc. Having an agent handle all of this will make your life so much easier! Click here to find out more about using a real estate agent to sell your home.

3. Playing hard to get

If it’s too difficult for potential buyers to view your home, they won’t. If you aren’t able to make your home available for showings and open houses, you’re going to have a hard time finding a buyer. The easier it is for potential buyers to see your house, the faster it will sell, so take a deep breath and prepare to do a lot of house cleaning over the next few weeks! It is understandable if you are nervous about having people in your home due to COVID, which is another reason to use a real estate agent. A Bozeman Real Estate Group agent will provide virtual tours and videos of your home so potential homebuyers can see it without having to physically walk through your home.

4. Your home isn’t ready

The condition of your home when it hits the market makes a big difference. New listings get the most attention, so if your home isn’t quite up to par when it is first listed, it will likely be overlooked by buyers and agents as time goes on. Before you list your home, make sure to take care of any deferred maintenance. Repaint if needed, take care of the yard work, and have the carpets cleaned. You’ll also want to declutter, removing as many personal items as possible to make the home feel like a neutral space.

5. You're not ready

If you’ve lived in your home for a significant amount of time it can be hard to leave the memories behind. Before making the decision to put your home on the market, make sure that you are ready to say goodbye. Otherwise, you may find yourself stalling, rejecting good offers, or looking for reasons to back out.

6. You’re not open to a home inspection

When your home goes under contract, the buyer will hire a home inspector to examine your home. They check for any damages, repairs that are needed, and systems that aren’t working properly. It’s often up to the seller to repair any issues found or to lower their price. Before you get defensive, put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and remember that they are simply doing their due diligence on the investment they are about to make.

7. Pets and their mess

While Bozeman is a super dog-friendly town, not everyone will love your pets or the messes they may leave in your home. Pet hair and smells can be a major turn-off to buyers, so be sure to keep floors and furniture clear of fur, keep the litter box scooped, and the yard clear to avoid any unwanted surprises.

8. Bad photos

These days, the listing photos of your home are viewed thousands of times. On top of that, most real estate agents and sellers have stepped up their listing photo game, using professional photographers to capture a home. The iPhone photos of your home will look pretty poor compared to professionally shot photos of the home next door. When you list with our office, you will get free professional photography and 3D tours!

Learn More About Selling Your Home in Bozeman