When it comes time to sell your home, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. After all, there’s a great deal at stake financially. How can you get the job done in the most efficient and effective way possible?

Sometimes a Not-to-Do List can be as helpful as a To-Do List. To that end, CRS magazine recently offered these 5 most “common and costly mistakes” sellers make when putting their homes on the market:

DO NOT:

Avoid repairs: Sure, it’s tempting to want to pass on any problems with the house to buyers, but a home in disrepair can drop the selling price substantially. “Consider getting a pre-inspection to uncover necessary repairs that might spook buyers and cause them to lower their offer or back out of the deal,” notes CRS. These might include electrical issues, water damage, flooring in poor condition or a leaky roof.

Overprice your home: Pricing the home correctly allows you to sell it efficiently and quickly. By contrast, asking too much can cause the home to linger on the market, prompting buyers to question why it hasn’t sold sooner. Make sure your real estate agent completes a market analysis of other homes in the area in order to price the home competitively.

Share too much with buyers: A chatty seller may say things that can negatively impact a buyer’s impression of the home or neighborhood. Best to keep quiet— or better yet, “make yourself scarce during showings,” says CRS.

Overlook presentation: Preparing a home for sale is critical to inducing buyers. Too much clutter and the home can feel claustrophobic and small; too empty and the home can seem uninviting and cold. Pay attention to how the house is presented and consider hiring a professional stager to make it look its best.

Be overeager: It’s important to keep your expectations in check and be patient with those who come to see your house. Not everyone who enters your home will be a serious buyer. “Remembering that browsers are part of the home-selling process will help keep disappointment at bay.”

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