7 mistakes that cost property owners thousands when selling
- Lundrim Meshi
- Jul 11
- 4 min read
Selling a property is often one of the biggest financial moments in a person’s life. Whether it’s your main residence or a rental investment, you naturally want to sell quickly and at the best price.Yet many owners make mistakes that end up costing them dearly.
At Mesh-Home, we help owners every day to optimize their sale, avoid common pitfalls, and most importantly, earn more. Here are the 7 most frequent mistakes, and how to avoid them.
1. Mispricing the property
This is by far the most common - and the most expensive - mistake. Many owners set their asking price based on emotion or by comparing to listed prices in their neighborhood.
The result:
If priced too high, their property sits on the market for months, becomes “burnt,” and often ends up selling below its real value.
If priced too low, they instantly lose out on thousands they could have earned.
"Get a professional, objective valuation based on real market data, recent comparable sales, and the specific features of your property."
2. Neglecting presentation (photos, staging, virtual tours)
Today, the first visit happens online. If your photos are dark, poorly framed, or show a cluttered space, you’ll immediately lose potential buyers. Listings without a floor plan or virtual tour are often skipped in just a few seconds.
Even during physical visits, a messy or overly personalized home can prevent buyers from seeing themselves living there.
"Invest in professional photos, clear floor plans, and if possible, a virtual tour. Light staging – decluttering, neutral decor, fixing small flaws - often makes a huge difference."
3. Forgetting required certificates or inspections
In Belgium, depending on your region, you need to provide specific documents before selling: PEB energy certificate, electrical compliance, soil certificates, urban planning documents, etc.
Failing to prepare these can:
delay the signing of the sales agreement,
or even derail the sale if problems are discovered too late.
"Check all required documents right at the start of your project to avoid nasty surprises at the critical moment."
4. Accepting the first offer out of fear of losing the buyer
It’s understandable: after a few viewings, when a serious first offer arrives, many owners jump on it out of fear of losing everything.
But this is often exactly when you have the most room to negotiate, because a buyer who makes an offer is already emotionally invested. Plus, the first offer isn’t always the best; a stronger one may arrive days later.
"Take a step back, compare offers, and get support to assess the buyer’s financing strength and negotiate in your best interest."
5. Limiting exposure to just one platform or a narrow audience
Some owners only list their property on a single website, or work with an agent who doesn’t leverage multiple marketing channels. This leads to fewer views, fewer visits, and fewer offers.
Today, you need to be everywhere buyers are searching: specialized portals, social media, qualified buyer databases, local marketing…
"Choose a partner with a real multi-channel marketing plan and an active portfolio of buyers. The more eyes on your property, the faster and better you’ll sell."
6. Being unprepared for negotiation
Even if your price is right, negotiation is almost guaranteed. Buyers will often try to lower the price, using arguments like non-compliant electrical systems, average energy performance, or small repairs.
Without preparation or knowing your wiggle room, you risk either:
accepting a significant price drop too quickly,
or scaring off a serious buyer over just a few thousand euros.
"Anticipate objections, know exactly what concessions you’re willing to make, and let a professional handle the negotiation. Often, an experienced negotiator recovers far more than their fee."
7. Going it alone without a local expert to secure the deal
Some owners think they’ll save money by handling everything themselves, but end up facing:
complex legal questions (suspensive clauses, mortgage conditions, cooling-off periods),
tricky tax issues (capital gains, registration duties),
or disputes after the sale (hidden defects, buyer claims).
Result: headaches that often cost far more than any agent commission.
"Work with a local expert who knows the regulations, market dynamics, and will defend your interests at every step."
🔎 In short: sell smarter, sell safer
Selling your property is a major project. By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll maximize your sale price and drastically reduce complications.
At Mesh-home, we help owners every day to sell their house or apartment under the best possible conditions:
accurate valuations,
targeted multi-channel marketing,
legal & admin support,
skilled negotiations.
📞 Thinking about selling?Request your free valuation today and see how we can help turn your project into reality.
Owner FAQ, 7 mistakes
💬 How much does a professional valuation cost ?
👉 At Mesh-Home, valuations are free and with no obligation. It’s our way to start a quality relationship.
💬 Why use a local expert ?
👉 They know the market inside out, understand what buyers expect, and navigate local rules. Result: you sell faster and for a better price, stress-free.
💬 Do I really need pro photos or staging ?
👉 Yes. In over 80% of quick sales, quality photos and a well-prepped property make all the difference. It’s the first filter to land viewings.
💬 Can’t I just post on a property website myself? Why go through you ?
👉 Because we activate many more channels (portals, social media, our buyer base) and optimize your listing to grab attention. Result: more interested buyers = stronger negotiation power.
