It's no secret that selling a home is stressful. You feel pressured to sell your home fast andget top dollar for it. You'll have a lot of decisions to make, and there are so many uncertainties that you're likely to turn to anybody who's sold a homebefore for their opinions and advice.

While this is common practice, it can often do more harm than good. That's because the real estate market changes quickly. What might have been great advice just a few months ago could be the completely wrong thing for you now. Unless you're dealing with a real estate professional you trust, it's best to take most of the advice you hear with a grain of salt.

Our real estate agents are constantly helping sellers sort through misinformation and make smart decisions. Here are some of the most common home selling mythsyou really should ignore.

1. You Can Make More Money Selling By Owner
   Some people will tell you that foregoing a realtor and selling your home yourself will save you money. While it's true that you'll avoid the cost of a commission, studies have found homes sold directly by owners net a significantly lower price.
   
   You'll also need to factor in the time, effort, and cost you'll incur while selling the home. This includes marketing expenses and the cost of taking time away from work to show the home. Don't forget to factor in the stress of trying to navigate the complexities of the sales process by yourself!

2. It's Fine to Sell Your Home "As Is"
   If you don't want to put the effort into fixing up your home, someone might have recommended you lower your price and just sell it "as is." While this might have worked in the past, it's not a good strategy now. Today's buyers really want a turn-key home, so failing to make updates could leave your house sitting on the market with no offers on the horizon.
   
   
3. Always Wait Until Spring to Sell
   Sure, listing your home in the spring might mean it will be in front of more buyers, but it also means far more competition. There will be pressure to get your pricing just right, so your home is a more attractive buy than the one down the street. Buyers are also more likely to want to negotiate. Going against this common advice and listing your home for sale in the summer or winter could really pay off.  
   
   
4. Set Your Sale Price High So You Can Negotiate
   Setting your home price high so you have room to negotiate down is another misguided piece of advice. In today's market, sellers don't have as much power as they once did. If you set your initial asking price too high, there's a good chance it will sit on the market. The longer a home sits on the market, the more potential buyers wonder what's wrong with it. Save yourself from this frustrating cycle by pricing appropriately from the get-go.
   
   
5. You'll Find a Buyer at Your Open House
   Open houses are fun and exciting, but they shouldn't be your primary marketing plan. Many people who come to an open house are just browsing to see what's out there, or are nosey neighbors who aren't looking to buy at all.
   
   Don't completely disregard the open house, after all, you could find a buyer there. Just make sure it's onlyone small part of a comprehensive marketing plan.

We Can Take the Stress Out of Selling Your Home!

AtThe Masiello Group, we believe in making the home-selling process as easy as possible.Contact us today to get started and we'll show you how simple home selling should be!