Mistake #1 -- Pricing Your Property Too High

Every seller obviously wants to get most money for his or her product. Ironically, best way to do this is NOT to list your product at an excessively high price! A high listing price will cause some prospective buyers to lose interest before even seeing your property. Also, it may lead other buyers to expect more than what you have to offer. As a result, overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price.

Mistake #2 -- Mistaking Re-finance Appraisals for Market Value

Unfortunately, a re-finance appraisal may have been stated at an untruthfully high price. Often, lenders estimate value of your property to be higher than it actually is in order to encourage re-financing. The market value of your home could actually be lower. Your best bet is to ask your REALTOR® for most recent information regarding property sales in your community. This will give you an up-to-date and factually accurate estimate of your property value.

Mistake #3 -- Forgetting to "Showcase Your Home"

In spite of how frequently this mistake is addressed and how simple it is to avoid, its prevalence is still widespread. When attempting to sell your home to prospective buyers, do not forget to make your home look as pleasant as possible. Make necessary repairs. Clean. Make sure everything functions and looks presentable. A poorly kept home in need of repairs will surely lower selling price of your property and will even turn away some buyers.

Mistake #4 -- Trying to "Hard Sell" While Showing

Buying a house is always an emotional and difficult decision. As a result, you should try to allow prospective buyers to comfortably examine your property. Don't try haggling or forcefully selling. Instead, be friendly and hospitable. A good idea would be to point out any subtle amenities and be receptive to questions.

Mistake #5 -- Trying to Sell to "Looky-Loos"

A prospective buyer who shows interest because of a "for sale" sign he saw may not really be interested in your property. Often buyers who do not come through a REALTOR® are a good 6-9 months away from buying, and they are more interested in seeing what is out there than in actually making a purchase. They may still have to sell their house, or may not be able to afford a house yet. They may still even be unsure as to whether or not they want to relocate.

Here are some simple tips that will help you make an informed decision about what kind to get, and who to get it from.

First ask yourself: do you really need it?

Can you manage without it? Is it for something frivolous, like a holiday? Could you get money by other means: part-time job, from a relative, sale an asset?

Don't put a monkey on your back if you can avoid it.

A loan varies according to:

The amount borrowed;

The interest rate;

The type of rate (fixed or variable);

The term (repayment time in months or years);

Deposit (downpayment);

Associated fees (broker, origination, prepayment etc.);

Insurance required by lender.

You are buying money for more than it cost lender. Simple.

It's a mistake to only care about interest rate; there are also arrangement fees and prepayment penalties to consider. Many 'no fee' credit lines have a pre-payment penalty. This is how brokers and lenders make their money. Work out total cost of your loan before committing.