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7 Reasons Your House isn't Selling and How to Fix Them
Regardless of whether we're in a Buyers or Sellers Market, people are always buying houses. There is nothing worse than having countless showings only to be disappointed over and over.
Why is it that some people can sell their houses in the first month, while others sit on the market for years?
You have to ask yourself: What does my house have that makes it stand out from the hundreds for sale in my area? What can I do to make it stand out?
I'll tell you exactly what you can do... Check out these 7 "fixable" reasons your house isn't selling. :)
1. Curb Appeal
We all know that first impressions are everything no matter what you are doing. So, selling a house is no different. Your house needs to stand out from the crowd. (in a good way)
Most people check out a house on their own before they even call to see it. If they drive by and are unimpressed by the exterior, they won't even bother looking inside.
Fix:
Remove trash, old yard furniture, or decorations
De-clutter your patio, garage, and yard
Power-wash or paint your homes exterior
Pay attention to landscaping and lawn color
Even something like a new mailbox or house numbers can get the attention of prospective buyers during a drive by.
2. Improper Staging
This doesn't mean you need to go out and pay $5,000 for a professional staging company. Although, it wouldn't hurt.
According to the National Association of Realtors, for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400.
“A staged home will sell for 17% more on average than a non-staged home, and 95% of staged homes sell in 11 days or less. That is statistically 87% faster than non-staged homes.
You should at least have nice furniture in the main living area arranged in a way that makes the rooms appear larger and more open.
Your arrangements should appeal to the masses and not your personal preference.
Fix:
Open the room up, remove excess furniture
Keep colors basic and neutral, whites, tans, and reds
Eliminate clutter, take everything off of counter tops and refridgerators
Remove personal photographs and replace with neutral artwork or landscape photos
Your prospect needs to be able to envision themselves coming home after a long day and enjoying the home. Kinda hard to do with photos of grandmas trip to Jamaica staring at them.
3. Pricing Too High
Even during a sellers market you need to take appraisals and fair market value into consideration. Research what houses are currently selling for in your area and compare them to your home to get an idea of your price point.
Just because your household income is $125,000 a year and its easy for you to afford a $350,000 house, that doesn't mean that most buyers will have the same circumstances.
Look at City-Data to find out the average incomes in your area and take that into consideration when pricing your home. If no one can afford your property...no one will buy it.
Take your realtors advice, they are going to want to list your property at the highest price possible, but they will also keep you in check.
4. Bad Listing Photos
Put a big gold star by this one because this is a make or break factor in selling your home.
You only have a few seconds to grab someones attention when they are searching online. Unappealing advertisement photos will be an immediate death sentence for home sellers. This is non-negotiable.
Equally as bad, if you have less than 25 photos buyers will assume you are trying to hide something and quickly move on.
Fix:
Eliminate clutter in pictures...take the Lucky Charms off the nice granite counter-top!
Take photos in natural light or invest in nice bright white lightbulbs
When taking pictures of the dining room...set the table
Take pictures of every room, including all bedrooms, get pictures of all exterior angles
**Take photos from the front door of the neighborhood** often neglected!
and please...put the toilet seat down
Consider hiring someone to do a virtual tour , some realtors do it themselves or they would definitely help you find someone who does.
5. Outdated Appliances
Yellow, white, and black are out; stainless is in. People are becoming more savvy and are paying attention to things like outdated water heaters and boilers.
According to Zillow, just adding the words "stainless steel" or "granite" to your listing, helps your house sell 38 days faster on average.
If you are going to leave these things "as is," expect to lower your price. It is almost always better to wow the prospect instead of disappointing them and negotiating a lower price.
Fix:
Consider replacing old kitchen appliances for new stainless steel
Get an inspection report of your water heater and boiler if its old, if its good...use that to build trust in your buyer. If its bad consider replacing it.
Make them fall in love with your house and it will ALWAYS sell.
6. Title Problems
This is usually an easy fix, it just requires a little investigative work.
Your title is the legal document that proves ownership. Some possible issues you can run into are:
Transfer of title without a recorded deed. This is when the purchaser of a home does not file with your local office.
Any liens on the property
Mechanics liens for unpaid renovations
Fix:
Contact your title company to find out if you need to fix anything.
7. You Hired the Wrong Agent
You need someone who will fight for you and always be honest. Do your research and find out what agencies are closing a lot of deals regularly, then interview agents from that office.
Ask the agent what their marketing strategy is. Its always better to inform yourself to prevent wasted time and money.
An experienced agent is always a safe bet because they have a lot of connections, can often get you the best offer, and have seen ups and downs in the market.
Selling your house quickly and having piece of mind will always be worth a higher commission.
Conclusion
Selling your house can be an exciting experience, but don't let the money blind you from the necessary steps you must take to sell your home.
It has been said, "If you build it, they will come." But, that is not always true when it comes to Real Estate!
Chime In:
What do you think is the #1 turn off for a prospective home-buyer? Let me know in the comment area below.
- Wishing you much Success -
Coty
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