When Your Home Doesn’t Sell

The real estate market in North America has seen historical movement in recent years, with homes selling within minutes in some cities. With the cooling of the real estate market, some sellers are finding their property just sits. If your property is just sitting there with no offers, it could be due to one of the issues listed below. Read on to learn why some homes just sit and don’t sell.

Unrealistic Price

Pricing your home can be difficult when you want to get as much as you can for it. In recent years, home prices soared, with some markets seeing buyers offering tens of thousands over asking price. While we would all love to get as much as possible, with the cooling of the market, home prices have been falling across the country. If you’re not setting a comparable price for your property, there’s a possibility it will not sell. Your agent will be your best reference as to whether or not a price reduction will be a good idea to get your home sold.

Your House Lacks ‘Charm’

When it comes to selling, you’ve got to make sure your home or property has a certain allure, 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 buyers, an ugly home will not get their foot through the 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 Photos

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

While it might not seem like the best use of money, your photos are a huge part of the selling process and shouldn’t be disregarded. Also make sure you have a good amount of pictures, especially of the most important rooms in the house, as well as any features that highlight 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, especially if they want to buy it.

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 distress. When emotions 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.

If your home has been sitting on the market with little 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 the front door. Good luck.

If you’re thinking of selling, reach out to me with your questions: I can help you navigate the local real estate market with ease. You can also use my website to find your next home: I’m here to help!