Entering the Danbury, CT real estate market as a home seller can seem like a daunting task right now. After all, foreclosed homes and tighter lending practices are everywhere you look. Meanwhile, it seems like there are fewer and fewer Danbury home buyers since many first-time buyers settled into their new homes during the now-expired Federal Housing Tax Credit.

What’s a Danbury home seller to do? While you can’t always predict what the housing market will look like, you can set yourself up for success as a home seller by avoiding these five common mistakes:

Setting your Pricing Expectations Too High

Even if the housing market is booming, over-pricing to the market is always a surefire way to slow the process of selling your Danbury home.

While the tendency might be to focus on the equity you’ll lose by lowering the list price of your home, I encourage you to think instead about all the money you’re spending on mortgage and utility payments each month. Time on market can become very costly.

If you bought your home at the height of the boom, realizing your Connecticut house is worth less than what you paid for it can be a harsh reality. However, recognizing the need to make a pricing adjustment based upon market conditions will be to your benefit in terms of time, energy and money.

Working with the Wrong Real Estate Agent

Who you choose as your real estate agent can be the deciding factor for how long your Danbury home stays on the market. It’s important to select a real estate agent who has experience working in your local area, who offers a high level property marketing plan, who puts the client first.

As an experienced greater Danbury area real estate agent, I can provide you with that level of service.

Thinking with Your Heart, Not with Your Head

At some point, your Danbury residence went from being a house with four walls and a roof to being a home full of your family’s precious memories. I understand that that can be a difficult sentiment to push to the side during the home selling process.

But it is important to separate your emotional attachment to your home when negotiating with a potential buyer. If a prospective buyer offers you significantly less than your asking price, I will work with you by providing  professional guidance and objectivity. If the buyer has the financial capability to purchase your Danbury home then we want to do everything possible to reach an acceptable middle ground.

Overlooking the Obvious

After a while of living somewhere, it’s easy to overlook both small and big details. If you want to sell your house in as little time as possible, it is important to look at your Danbury home with the eyes of a buyer.

Could the front yard use a little T.L.C.? Is your living room cluttered with knick-knacks and acting as a deterrent to potential buyers? Could the house use a good power washing?

The more critical you are of your home, the more likely you’ll be able to anticipate what a prospective buyer might see as flaws. Additionally, I can provide you with a handy checklist to assist you in assessing your home and to give you do-it-yourself staging advice. Optimizing your home’s presentation before you begin showings is the key to minimizing time on the market.

Ignoring the Importance of Adaptability

There is a shelf life for how long a Danbury home for sale stays relevant on the Danbury real estate market.  If your home has been on the market for longer than a month or two, consider making some changes to the home to keep it fresh and appealing to your potential buyers.

Ready to Enter the Danbury, Connecticut Real Estate Market?

By avoiding these five common home seller mistakes, you’re significantly increasing your chances of finding a potential home buyer, even in this challenging Danbury housing market.

Contact me, RuthAnne Salvatore, to learn more about how to effectively market your Danbury home for sale or to request a free, home valuation report. I would be pleased to share the many success stories from my long list of satisfied clients.