If only buying and selling a home were as simple as they sound.
The reality is that real estate can be tricky, and half-truths about what it takes to complete a transaction abound. It helps to keep an open mind – one attuned to potential to truisms that could derail the sale. Here, experts offer advice regarding some of the myths of the market:

If You’re Not in a Hurry to Sell, Price Your House Higher
Statistics have proved that sellers who overprice their homes end up getting fewer dollars, says Bill Golden, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Metro Atlanta Cityside. The house tends to become market weary and sit, and buyers may lowball due to the length of time the house has been available. Pricing a home competitively, or a bit under the market value, will generate more interest, a faster sale and put sellers in a strong negotiating position.

Never Sell Your Home When Vacant
While it’s true that some homes don’t show as well when they’re empty, some may actually show better, says Golden. If the seller’s decorating is overly personalized – too much bold wallpaper – it may turn off potential buyers. Also, some homes will look larger without furniture, though rooms with no furniture can make it tough for buyers to put the space into perspective. Make this decision with your agent on a case-by-case basis.

Sellers Think Everything Must Be White
White can be bland on its own, and should be paired with some color for energy, says Starr Osborne, owner and founder of Tailored Transitions, a home staging design firm in Philadelphia and author of “Home Staging that Works” (Amacom, 2010). Neutrals – tans, creams, soft yellows and moss gray-greens – are warmer and can be spruced up, too, with jolts of color.

Foreclosures are a Steal
Not only do lower-priced homes have the potential to get bid up in today’s market with limited inventory, but many distressed properties require work and money, says Leslie Tyler, vice president of marketing for ZipRealty in Emeryville, Calif., and may end up costing beyond the bargain buyers thought they were getting.

Consumers Think Homes Aren’t Selling
If homes are priced correctly from the start – the first week or two – they will sell, even now, says Diann Patton, a broker associate with Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty, Grass Valley, Calif. Thanks to the tax credits for first-time and repeat buyers, sales in many markets are increasing.

Buyers Can’t Obtain Financing
Loans are available, but the qualifications have tightened, says Patton. Buyers should go through the prequalification process with a lender, and be prepared to show bank statements, tax returns, credit reports and income verification.

Home Inspections are Overrated
Although a home may look to be in top condition, inspectors are trained to hunt for latent defects that a seller may not have known about, says Golden, which could end up costing a buyer more down the road than the inspector’s fee.

Skip the Salesperson, Skip Paying a Commission
Obviously, most salespeople disagree, since they believe they’re a buyer’s best advocate – able to tap the expertise of lenders, inspectors, home maintenance sources and real estate attorneys, in addition to their knowledge about the local market.