When Your Home Doesn’t Sell

    Real Estate Advisor: July 2018
    When you list your home you hope for a quick, successful sale. For many real estate markets throughout the U.S., newly listed homes can be snatched up in the blink of an eye (for some cities, properties can sell within a day or less). While we all would love a quick sale when we list, the reality for some sellers is that their homes may sit on the market much longer than others. If you’ve listed your home and it’s not seeing any interest or offers, read on to find out some of the reasons a home doesn’t sell.

    Unrealistic Price

    Pricing your home can be difficult. While we would all love to get as much as we possibly can, one of the main reasons why a home doesn’t sell is because the price is too high. Your agent is able to help and guide you on an appropriate price based on the local comps, the condition of your home, and any recently sold homes in the neighborhood. But if you are set on getting a certain price, and no one is interested in your home at that price, it’s best to reevaluate what you’re asking for. Cutting the sale price can attract a huge amount of buyers that may have been previously disinterested.

    Your House Lacks ‘Charm’

    When it comes to selling, you’ve got to make sure your home or property has a certain allure to it, especially if it’s been sitting on the market for over a month. While you don’t need to resort to remodeling or tearing down walls, make sure it’s clean, there’s no clutter, and if you can make small cosmetic improvements to those areas that might not be at their best. For the vast majority of those looking to buy, an ugly home will not entice potential buyers through your front door. Your agent will gladly provide some suggestions on what you can do to add a little ‘oomph’ to your home, especially if there’s no current interest in it.

    Poor Listing Pictures

    With a large number of buyers beginning their home search online, it’s imperative to you as a seller to have quality listing photos of your property. Whether you like it or not, many potential buyers will judge your home off the listing photos alone, so you’ve got to make sure what you put on the Internet shows your house in its best possible light. Don’t take pictures on your phone; make sure professional photographer who specializes in buildings takes your listing photos.

    Your photos are a huge part of the selling process and shouldn’t be disregarded. You also want to make sure you have a good amount of pictures, especially of the most important rooms in the house as well as any items that could act as a highlight for the home. Pictures are a huge asset when it comes to selling, so make sure your pictures are exceptional.

    Showings Are Too Difficult

    A lot goes into selling a home, especially on the part of the seller: prepping for the sale, keeping the home clean, accommodating open houses and showings, and a slew of other tasks and duties that take time and are not generally easy. When it comes to selling, the name of the game is flexibility. If you’re unwilling to accommodate showings throughout the day (specifically in the evenings and on the weekends), it’s going to be very difficult for buyers to see what you have to offer. Buyers want to see a home when they’re truly interested in it – if you prevent them from having a personal peek at your property, you could possibly be turning away someone that wants to buy your house. Be flexible and don’t make it extremely difficult for a potential buyer to check out your home.

    You’re Too Emotional

    If you have a large emotional attachment to your home, it can be hard to remember that you’re selling ‘a house’ and not ‘your home.’ Emotions play a big part in homes and families, and when the family home is on the market, it can cause some emotional issues. When these come into play, it can be hard to accept offers that might not seem ‘good enough’ or don’t match the personal value you’ve attached to the property.
    When you sell your home, you’ve got to remove the emotional attachment. You may feel inclined to keep all your personal items out and on display, because they’re part of you and your family, but too much personal clutter can deter even the most ardent buyer, and it doesn’t help you separate the ‘home’ from the ‘house.’ Remove pictures, trinkets, knick-knacks, and other personal items that are hindering you from accepting an offer, and maybe hinder a buyer from seeing the house as their home.

    If your home has been on the market for a while and hasn’t garnered a lot of interest, it may be time to reevaluate your current strategy. If you know you’ve fallen victim to one of the items listed above, take some time with your agent and determine what the best course of action is. There are buyers out there that want to buy your home, you just need to find the best approach to getting them through your door. Good luck.

    Written by Sid Pugh on . Posted in Local Resources
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