Selling? If you really care to move on, you’ll want to avoid the top three mistakes sellers make. They come down to two areas—pricing and presentation. Don’t 1) price too high 2) be unaware of what your listing looks like on line or 3) accept a seller’s disclosure that is not accurate, complete and readable.

Pricing is easily 80 percent of the marketing of a home. Without the right price it doesn’t matter

how beautiful your home is. How do you price it right?

Ask for specifics of the proposed listing agent. If your home is in Livermore Falls and the agent is comparing it to homes in Turner, beware. Those are clearly two different markets. Ask to see what has sold in the last year that is like yours in size, age, acreage, number of bedrooms, condition, location.

See what is currently on the market. That’s your competition. Would you home be the best one in that price range? How many similar homes sold in the past year? How many are for sale? If—based on history—your chances of selling appear slim, you may need to start a little below the market to make the sale.

Presentation is also key. It’s the mix of seller and agent responsibility. Clean, clean, clean works when selling a home. And clutter free.

Once you list, it’s not your home any more. It’s a ‘product’. Clearing counter tops, removing tiny rugs that cut up the space (especially if you have nice floors), taking the blanket off the back of the couch, and removing refrigerator magnets will help. Think model home. Less is definitely more! Ask your agent for advice on how to get your home ready to sell.

Look at the agent’s listings on line. How are the photos? Check the quality, the number of photos (35 is max on the MLS), the flow (are all the kitchen photos together, are they mixed with bedrooms, garage, front lawn) and do they show windows, ceilings, floors?

Are there captions under the photos? — to invite the imagination of the buyer and highlight what a photo can’t capture—how easy the home is to heat, age of the roof and appliances, recreation nearby….whatever is notable.

Does the agent use a visual tour? Does it provide any info that the still photos do not? A voice-narrated virtual tour is great for telling a story of the home—to make it inviting to prospective buyers.

Lastly, look at some of the agent’s sellers disclosures on other listing. Gaps on this important document can make buyers wary. Make sure the agent has your seller’s disclosure accurate, complete and readable. No blanks. Period.

If you’re diligent in these three areas, you’ll go a long way towards getting that ‘SOLD’ sign out front!