Tips for Sellers: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home
- Susan Heckman
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Everyone makes mistakes. But what if you could avoid these pitfalls for a smoother selling experience? It is easier than you think!
Selling your home is a major financial and emotional event that requires careful planning along with thoughtful guidance from an experienced real estate professional. While every property and market is different, I’ve seen firsthand the common mistakes that can cost sellers time, money, and unnecessary stress.
To help you navigate the process with confidence, here are five missteps to avoid, along with expert insights to help your home sell quickly and for the best possible price.
1. Overpricing Your Home
Hands down, one of the most common (and often costly) mistakes sellers make is setting an unrealistic asking price. Today’s buyers are well-informed. Overpricing can cause your home to sit on the market longer than necessary, raising red flags for buyers and often leading to price reductions.
How can a good asking price benefit you as the seller? In 2025, single-family and condo homes in Monmouth County sold for an average of 101% of asking price in just 34 days. In Ocean County, homes sold for 99% of asking price in an average of 40 days.
Homes priced competitively are selling faster and at stronger values:
Source: Monmouth/Ocean MLS
Tip: Online estimates from Zillow and similar platforms can’t account for your home’s condition, upgrades, or local demand. A detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) prepared by an experienced local Realtor evaluates recent sales, current competition, and your home’s unique features to determine a smart, competitive price—and attract serious buyers right away.
2. Neglecting Curb Appeal
“You will never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
- Coco Chanel
First impressions matter. If your home’s exterior feels uninviting or appears poorly maintained, buyers may lose interest before ever stepping inside. Recent sales trends show that well-maintained homes with strong curb appeal sell 10–15% faster and often command higher prices in both Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Tip: Focus on simple upgrades such as fresh landscaping, clean driveway and walkways, and an inviting entryway. Small improvements can make a big impact when your prospective buyer is standing at the curb.
3. Ignoring Necessary Repairs and Staging
Visible issues and cluttered spaces distract buyers and lower perceived value. Well-presented homes not only sell faster, they often sell for more.
Staging doesn’t have to mean hiring a full design team. Often, it’s about editing: removing excess furniture, decluttering, rearranging what remains, and adding a few modern touches like updated lighting, area rugs, or neutral accessories. The goal is to highlight space, light, and flow.
Equally important are small repairs. Walk through your home as if you were a buyer and look for details that signal neglect: dripping faucets, cracked switch plates, scuffed walls, dusty vents, or burned-out bulbs. Taking care of these items before listing, and investing in a professional deep clean, can make a noticeable difference.
Tip: Consider a pre-listing home inspection. Addressing issues upfront can prevent surprises during buyer inspections and keep your transaction on track.
4. Making Your Home Hard to Show
Accessibility matters. Homes that are easy to show sell up to 25% faster, especially in competitive markets like the Jersey Shore.
Even with more sellers working from home, flexibility with showings is still possible.
Ask for ample advance notice before showings
Offer defined and staggered showing windows
Allow your agent to host open houses
The more accessible your home is, the more interest it generates right out of the gate, and that often leads to stronger offers and better terms. The goal is to maximize market exposure while minimizing the disruption to your daily routine.
5. Not Working With a Local Real Estate Expert
Attempting to sell on your own can be a costly mistake. Over the past year, Monmouth County saw a 12% jump in median home prices for homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), while Ocean County experienced an 8% increase. A local expert ensures your home is priced strategically and marketed effectively so you get the best results.
According to a 2025 National Association of Realtors report, “a record high of 91% of home sellers sold their home with the assistance of a real estate agent.” Working with a Realtor makes the process less stressful, provides broader exposure, and often results in a higher net sales price.
Ready to Sell?
If you’re thinking about selling, now is the time to get a head start on the spring and summer market. Partner with an experienced local broker-associate who understands the nuances of the Jersey Shore real estate market and can guide you from home preparation to the closing table.
Visit suehex.com/sellers to learn more, or reach out anytime for an informative consultation and complimentary Comparative Market Analysis.
Susan Heckman
Broker-Associate
732-687-9980
The Gallery Residential Brokerage
Serving New Jersey home buyers and sellers from Spring Lake, NJ
Source: National Association of Realtors
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