Last Updated on January 13, 2025 by Vannessa Rhoades, Three Bears Home Staging
The vast majority of my home staging consultations are positive experiences. Even clients who are initially terrified hesitant about meeting with a home stager start to relax as we work through the process together. They begin to understand that my goal is directly in line with theirs: sell the home fast and for more money! I meet with homeowners preparing for happy moves due to promotions or a growing family. Other homeowners have sad moves due to divorce or layoffs or a hundred other reasons in between. Almost all homeowners I meet are motivated to get the house sold, willing to put in a little effort, and open to diplomatic suggestions.
And then… some are not.
Some homeowners are still on the fence about selling. Some are really out of touch with how the current real estate market operates. And, every once in a while, someone who leaves me wondering why they even called me at all. These clients typically utter at least one of the following “kiss of death” phrases. By doing so, they invariably sabotage their home sale before they ever get started…
Common Home Seller Mistakes and “Kiss of Death” Phrases that Sabotage Your Home Sale: What Not to Say When Selling a House
1. The FSBO Home Sale Sabotage
“I’m going to sell it myself.”
Perhaps you don’t want to pay commission fees. Or you had a bad experience with a real estate agent in the past. Maybe you’re one of the statistical few who can make it work. But there are lots of good, professional, qualified real estate brokers and agents out there. These professionals are worth every penny of their commission. They have access to services and market knowledge that you may not. Get recommendations, do your research, interview agents, and hire one who’s a good fit for your needs.
2. The Deferred Repairs/Updates Home Sale Sabotage
“I’m just going to leave this wallpaper/raggedy carpet/hot pink dining room like it is. Whoever buys the house will want to change it to their own style anyway.”
I’ve worked more than 15 years in marketing and PR and another 10+ years as a professional home stager. I can tell you without hesitation that most people can’t really “see” beyond what’s in front of them. Only about 10% of home buyers can visualize the potential of a home. Don’t leave your home unstaged or fail to make simple updates and repairs before you go on the market. By doing so, you leave the advantages of your home overlooked and left up to the buyer’s imagination. Another disadvantage? Most buyers drastically overestimate what it will cost to make those changes or repairs…and will take it off their offer price.
3. The Over-Priced Home Self-Sabotage
“We’re going to price it high so that we have room to negotiate.”
Another “kiss of death” phrase right here. Listen: the same strategies that work at a garage sale or on an episode of “Pawn Stars” do not necessarily apply to real estate. Today’s buyers have access to a LOT of information. They know when something is priced well and when it’s not. They don’t care what you owe on it, or how much you invested, or how much you think it’s worth. Setting a price that’s in line with other comparable, recently sold homes in the neighborhood creates demand and interest and has buyers chasing YOU.
4. The “Wait-and-See” Sabotage
“Well, I don’t know if I want to make all these changes. If it doesn’t sell, then I’ll have to live with all this neutral paint/rehang my old curtains/put all the family photos back. Maybe I’ll just leave it like it is and see what happens.”
No. Just…no. I can almost guarantee that if you go into a sale with this attitude it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Commit to the process and put in the prep work. If you’re not willing to do that, maybe you need to seriously re-examine whether or not you’re truly ready to sell your house. For some people, that emotional connection is still just too strong).
Don’t Self-Sabotage Your Home Sale!
“When should I be worried about not selling my house?”
“Why is no one viewing my house?”
If your home is on the market and these questions are plaguing you, consider whether you’ve expressed one of these sentiments about your home sale. Don’t be the homeowner who sabotages their sale with a “kiss of death” phrase! Preparing for a home sale is a big task — physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. Take some of the burden off your shoulders by going all in and surrounding yourself with a team of professionals who can help you make sure your house is accurately priced and staged “just right.” Take a look below at how Three Bears Home Staging is helping home sellers all around the country:
Vannessa Rhoades
Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.
