3 Myths About Selling a Home in Boston

As a Boston real estate agent, I hear a lot of the myths that tend to circulate as sellers prepare to put their homes on the market. While it’s natural to consult our friends and family members who have “been there, done that,” it can be detrimental to the success of your real estate transaction if you solely follow the advice of your loved ones. This is where enlisting the help of a professional comes in handy. Because we have a lot of experience working on both the buyer side and the seller side of a real estate transaction, a Boston real estate agent such as myself has valuable insight you’ll find helpful as you begin your journey through the Boston real estate market. Here are a few popular myths about selling your home – debunked. 

Myth #1: I have to price my home high to anticipate an offer at market value

In reality, pricing your home too high can be just as bad as pricing your home too low. By setting an unrealistic price for your Boston home, you’ll miss the group of buyers who are looking for homes in the price range where your home should actually be listed. If you have to lower the price as time goes on, you miss the window of opportunity for maximum exposure (the first 30 days your home is listed). Price your home correctly from the start and attract the right buyers at the right time.

Myth #2: You’re better off going the “For Sale By Owner” route and saving the real estate agent’s commission fee

Selling a home is an incredibly complex task that the average homeowner usually isn’t prepared for. Yes, it’s true you that you will save money on the commission you would have paid a Boston real estate agent. However, you most likely won’t sell your home for as high of a price as you would have if you had consulted a professional. Not to mention, your REALTOR® will implement extensive marketing efforts to expose your home to his or her network of local agents and their qualified buyers. Can your newspaper ad do that?

Myth #3: Skipping over minor repairs won’t affect the marketability of my home

Wrong again. While some buyers are willing to accept a home “as-is” and make repairs once they move in, you probably won’t be impressed by their offers. Caulk that drafty window, oil those squeaky door hinges, fix the leaky kitchen sink, and repair those broken bathroom tiles. You don’t want to give a buyer an excuse to offer you less than your home is worth to cover the repairs they’ll need to make on their own dime. Make your home as attractive as possible to as many buyers as possible and you’re guaranteed to receive at least one offer you’re pleased with.

What are some of the other myths you’ve heard about selling your home? If you have any questions about the home selling process or the Boston real estate market on a more general level, please reach out to me. I have helped countless buyers and sellers reach successful closings and would love the opportunity to do the same for you. I look forward to working with you!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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