Top 10 Mistakes Home Sellers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

By Trent Osborne | Century 21 Investment Realtors
#PrimePropertyPlaybook

Selling your home can be an exciting step—but it’s also full of potential pitfalls. A small misstep early in the process can cost you time, money, or even your ideal buyer. Whether it’s pricing too high or ignoring curb appeal, these are the most common mistakes homeowners make when selling—and how to avoid them like a pro.

1. Overpricing the Home

It’s tempting to aim high and “leave room to negotiate,” but overpricing is one of the biggest reasons homes sit on the market. Today’s buyers are well-informed, and if a home is priced above market value, they’ll skip it altogether.

How to avoid it: Work with your realtor to run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and price based on recent sales, not emotion or what you “need” to make. The market decides the value, not sentiment.

2. Skipping Pre-Sale Repairs

That leaky faucet or broken closet door might seem minor, but to buyers, it raises a red flag. If small things are broken, they’ll start to wonder what big issues have been ignored.

How to avoid it: Do a pre-listing walkthrough with your agent. Tackle the easy cosmetic fixes and consider a pre-listing inspection for major systems. It shows buyers you’ve taken care of the home.

3. Neglecting Curb Appeal

First impressions are everything. If buyers drive up and see dead grass, peeling paint, or a cluttered porch, they may never even walk through the front door.

How to avoid it: Trim bushes, mow the lawn, plant fresh flowers, and make sure the entryway is clean and welcoming. A $500 investment outside can net thousands more in offers.

4. Being Emotionally Attached During Negotiations

Your home is personal. But once it hits the market, it becomes a product—and emotional reactions to low offers or criticism can derail a deal.

How to avoid it: Take a step back and treat the sale like a business transaction. Trust your agent to be the buffer between your feelings and the process.

5. Using Bad or DIY Photos

Over 95% of buyers start their search online. If your listing photos are dark, blurry, or poorly staged, your home won’t make it past the scroll.

How to avoid it: Hire a professional photographer—your realtor should have a go-to contact. Good lighting, angles, and staging make all the difference in attracting attention.

6. Limiting Showings or Being Too Involved

If buyers can’t see the home on their schedule—or feel uncomfortable because the seller is hovering—it kills momentum. People need to be able to envision their life there without you in the room.

How to avoid it: Make your home easy to show and leave during open houses or private tours. The more accessible it is, the faster it’ll sell.

7. Ignoring the Power of Staging

A home that’s clean and well-staged sells faster and for more money. Empty homes often feel smaller and less inviting, while cluttered or overly personalized spaces distract buyers.

How to avoid it: Declutter, depersonalize, and stage key rooms (living room, primary bedroom, kitchen). Even small touches like fresh towels or throw pillows help buyers connect emotionally.

8. Not Disclosing Issues Honestly

Trying to hide known problems (like water damage or a past roof leak) might seem like a shortcut—but it can lead to lawsuits or deals falling through during inspection.

How to avoid it: Be upfront. Full disclosure builds trust, and in most states, it’s the law. Buyers will find out eventually—better it come from you than an inspector.

9. Skipping a Deep Clean

This goes beyond a quick tidy-up. Buyers notice fingerprints on appliances, grime in the bathroom, and pet odors. Clean homes feel well-maintained and move-in ready.

How to avoid it: Hire a professional cleaning crew before listing and keep it maintained while it’s on the market. Don’t forget windows, baseboards, and the garage.

10. Hiring the Wrong Agent—or Going FSBO Without a Plan

Selling without an experienced realtor—or hiring someone based on friendship instead of results—can lead to pricing errors, weak marketing, and missed opportunities.

How to avoid it: Interview agents, ask for their track record, and look at their listings. If you go For Sale By Owner, make sure you understand the legal process, marketing, negotiation, and disclosure laws in your state.

💡 Final Tip: The key to a successful sale is preparation, pricing, and presentation. Lean on your real estate professional—they’ve done this a hundred times and know how to get you top dollar with fewer headaches.