You are the proud owner of a home in the Costa Blanca North in Spain. In the coastal towns of Moraira or Benissa. Or in one of the other Mediterranean villages on the Costa Blanca. There comes a time when you want to sell. With high expectations, you put the house on the market. Unfortunately. After a long time, it is still not sold. Disappointed, you wonder what the reason could be. Read this blog and you will know.

TOP 12 mistakes when selling your house

1. The property is too expensive

The real value of a house is what buyers are willing to pay for it. The value is never determined by the amount the owner wants to receive. Many buyers do research on the internet beforehand. The moment they go to view houses, they have a good idea of the market value. Nobody wants to pay a too high price. Another common error is the following.

Homeowners who have spent money on major or minor renovations add the full cost to the selling price. Unfortunately, this is not always justified. Imagine you spent 30.000 euros on the installation of a new kitchen. There is no guarantee that you will receive 30,000 euros more when selling.

What is the best way to determine the correct value of the property.

Get a free valuation from an experienced local estate agent, such as Orange Villas. To get a realistic picture, invite, say, 3 estate agents for a valuation. The estate agent will look at the condition and location of the property. He or she will compare with recently sold properties and with the market situation. The agent will also discuss the conditions of putting your house up for sale. Compare and choose the estate agent who gives you the most confidence to sell your property.

2. It is not easy to view the property

Those who want to sell their home need to be flexible. Potential buyers often only have a few days and moments to view houses. They want to make appointments based on their schedule. Not allowing a viewing because it is not convenient, is a real risk to lose a potential client. A house that cannot be viewed will not be sold.

What should I do to get the most buyers to my house?

Very simple: don't say "no". Be flexible and allow a viewing. Whether that's in the morning, afternoon or a short-term request. Are you not 100% flexible due to your personal circumstances? Ask someone to open your house if you can't do it yourself. 

3. The owner is too attached to the property

If the owner is too attached to the house, it is difficult to sell the property. Despite proper valuation by the agency, the owner wants to put the property on the market for a too high price. So, not in line with the market. And even after many viewings without a serious offer, the seller is not willing to lower the price. Because of the personal attachment to the house, the owner thinks it is worth more than in reality. Consequence? The house remains for sale.

How do I let go of the emotional attachment?

Focus on the future. What will it bring me when I sell the house? 

This video can help.

4. The owner is present during a viewing

Leave when there is a viewing of your property. Even if you hide yourself, buyers will know you are there. It is a fact that buyers feel less comfortable when the owner is present. As a result, they are more likely to walk fast through the property. A common mistake is to "interfere" with the viewing. The estate agent's job is to show the client around and highlight the positive features of the house. Not the owner's job.

How to avoid this?

Pretty simple: don't be there. Even at Open Houses, it is better not to be at home.

5. The house is not clean

It won't be the first-time buyers walk out because the house is dirty. A dirty, unkempt house gives a bad impression. Buyers are quick to think that the house has not been looked after. Has there been any maintenance? A neglected house is generally not attractive. Clean houses make more of an impression and sell faster. 

What can I do?

We'll come straight to the point. Selling a house is hard work. Rugs should be clean (re steamed), clean the windows and mop ALL the floors. Remove pet hair and odours. Dust the house. Make sure bathtubs, showers toilets and worktops are clean. The garden should also look well kept.

6. The decoration in the house is too personal 

Collections, family photos, etc. distract attention from the house. Buyers want to imagine what it is like to live in the house. It delays the sale if the buyer pays more attention to a collection than to the actual house. 

How to make my house less "my house" 

You want to sell. So, you are going to move one day. Start putting away personal items right away. Trophies, photos, souvenirs, collections etc... Pack it away! Either in moving boxes or plastic boxes. A neutral house will make potential buyers feel it is their home sooner. 

7. The house is not decorated at all 

Given point 6, it may seem like an empty house will sell faster, but this is a misconception. Furnishings help potential customers feel at home and give a sense of the actual size of a space. 

How do I "stage" my home 

There are professional home stagers who can prepare the home for sale. Of course, this comes with a (hefty) price tag. You can also seek advice from the estate agent. Research on the internet also works wonders. Look at "before" and "after" or type the word "home staging". Better copied well, than invented badly. There is also plenty of inspiration on Pinterest. 

8. The listing by the estate agent is not good 

It is important to choose an estate agent with a fast website with easy navigation. In different languages, so a client can read the description in his own language. With nice, sharp photos. You don't have to see everything, but what you see should be good. The text and text layout are also important. House hunters drop out if the text has no paragraphs, many spelling mistakes, etc. 

How to get the best possible listing 

Choose an estate agent who understands his trade. Do some research. Do your own property search on the internet. Find out which estate agent comes across as professional. Orange Villas is an estate agent who puts work into listings. We always try to give the best possible readable description in 5 languages. Our photographer takes lots of photos and selects only the best ones. You can help the estate agent by giving as much information about the house as possible. Make sure the house is tidy when the photographer takes the photos. 

9. Home upgrades are too personal 

Always remember that everyone has their own taste. What you like, someone else may find hideous. Think of walls in a strong colour like purple or orange. Or a black ceiling. Exterior walls in a striking colour like blue or pink. Children's rooms full of "glow in the dark" decorations. It's fun, but not to sell. 

How to make the house less personal 

Opt for neutral. Paint interior and exterior walls in a neutral colour. Remove too conspicuous decoration. Make the buyer feel like they can go straight into the house. This will help the sale. 

10. The house needs a lot of repairs 

A house that needs major improvements is only attractive at a low price. It is as simple as that. No customer will pay the top price only to have to invest afterwards. 

What if there is a lot to repair 

Be realistic and act likewise. You can't or don´t want to do the repairs? Then don't expect to sell the house for the top price. Realise that with a "renovation house" you are limiting your market. Bargain hunters are your only target market. Generally, these will pay as little as possible. If possible, we do recommend doing the repairs. That way, the house will sell for a much higher price. 

11. There is too much clutter in the house 

Clutter limits the free space in a house. It makes the house look smaller. Clutter distracts buyers. What is clutter? Too much furniture in a room. An uncluttered kitchen sink, tables full of papers, toys everywhere, etc.

How to deal with clutter 

Tidy up! That is the only correct answer. Again, realise that you are going to sell your house and move. Start cleaning up now. Anything you don't need daily has to be in boxes. Donate things that are superfluous to charity shops. Create a house that is neat and spacious.

12. The property is not marketed properly 

A sales board on the wall or a small ad in a local paper. We said earlier that listing is important. But there is more. Social media, trade shows, cooperating estate agents, etc.

How does my house get well marketed?

The more people see the property, the faster it sells. Choose an estate agent who works well with other estate agents. Who goes to fairs. Who is active on social media. 

Orange Villas is such an estate agent. We have a large network of cooperating estate agents. They bring the property to the attention of their clients. Put the property on their home portals. In Spain and abroad. Orange Villas is active on social media and does a lot of publicity. We attend trade fairs. The next one is the 2nd Home Expo in Maastricht in the Netherlands at the end of January 2023. 

Selling a house is hard work. Both for the owner and for the estate agent selling the house. Every house is sold once. If you want to sell your house, feel free to read the tips above again.

Would you like more advice or list your property for sale with one of the best estate agents in Moraira? Stop by our office in Moraira or call for an appointment at your home.

We go for it! You too?