(Submitted by Lisa Roberts.)
So, the time has come for you to sell your old place and move to a new house? There are no more exciting projects you can do. Purchasing a new home is a dream for many people. However, before you can make a purchase and move in, selling your current house is a priority. Sometimes, it happens quite fast, but on other occasions, the process might last longer than you expected. There are many reasons why your house might not sell immediately. With that in mind, let’s review what some of these reasons are and how to deal with them!
You are not working with the right people!
The number one reason why your house might not sell is that you didn’t find a good real estate agent. It is an obvious one, but it happens mostly because first-time buyers and sellers do not know what to look for in a real estate agency.
Even though your initial thought might be to find a cheaper real estate agent, that is not always the best solution. What you should look for are experts who specialize in the area you are interested in. They know the neighborhood, price fluctuations, and everything there is about the condition of the houses and its occupants.
You will not only find the house of your dreams, but also learn about the people in your neighborhood, and come to a conclusion whether this is a good purchase for you or not.
Furthermore, always check reviews and recommendations from people who already bought or sold homes in that area. You will get first-hand information about their experience, which will help you make an informed decision.
With that being said, you should only contact licensed real estate agents with good recommendations!
You are asking for too much money
Setting the price for your home is a difficult task. Most of the time people are not objective, and that leads to wrong decisions. If your house is not selling after some time, ask a real estate agent to give you an estimate of the realistic value of your home.
It is important to understand that no one wants to lower the value of your house, but it is important to be realistic and flexible. Turning down multiple offers because the buyers think the price is too high will get you stuck in a loop.
A good piece of advice is to set the lowest price you will go for, talk it out with your agent, and see what the best course of action is. If a good opportunity presents itself, think before you act on an impulse.
Your house does not look appealing
While this is not something you would want to hear, it is important to be honest with yourself. If your house does not look nice, no one will want to buy it. Before you even think of putting it on the listing, do a quick remodel and fix everything that needs fixing.
Remember, the goal is not to spend too much money, but to make it look presentable to the buyer’s eye. It is also imperative to fix any issues that might put off buyers.
A good way to take care of this problem is to look for useful tips for selling your home. You will not only find advice on how to stage it properly, but when is the best time to sell it, and learn about the market as well.
Homes that don’t fit the buyer’s profile
Even though you might think that every house will sell, that is not always the case. It is important to understand what the buyers are looking for. Compare your house with the rest of the houses in the neighborhood you live in.
If you have a high-end luxury home, not everyone can afford it. In the end, it all comes down to finding the right buyer for your property.
What you can do is have a talk with your agent, get an estimate, and see if he or she can find buyers for you. It is a lot easier for them to reach out to a wider group of people and see if someone is interested in purchasing your place.
It’s all about the timing
So, you have decided to sell your house before Christmas because relocation across state lines during holidays can be a pain due to the traffic jams? Well, tough luck. Christmas is a time when people spend money on presents for their loved ones. People usually spend more during the holidays, and that is not the best time to be selling a house.
Check with your real estate agent what the best time is. It is important to sell your house during the best season, that’s when you have the highest chances of finding a buyer who will pay the price you want.
The choice of advertising photos is bad
Take a look at house listings online. What kind of photos do you see? Is there any house that you don’t like based on what photos are shown? That should never be your house. Having a good photo of your home and all the rooms inside is a crucial step towards finding a buyer. Since that is probably the first time they see your place, it must leave a good impression. Otherwise, there will be no second time.
A lot of real estate agents work closely with sellers to create a portfolio worth looking at. The photos you place online should also represent the true state of your home. If you put a fake photo or add features that aren’t there, not only will buyers leave, but you can be legally prosecuted as well. Having a good real estate agent by your side will help you to avoid all the little tricky situations.
Reasons why your house might not sell – delivered!
Let’s do a quick summary of all the reasons your home might not sell:
- you are working with a bad real estate agent
- the price is too high
- the place does not look presentable
- there is no buyer for what you are selling
- the timing is wrong
- photos on the listing do not look good
Whether it’s a single item or a combination of items from this list, make sure to eliminate as many reasons as possible why your house might not sell. Be meticulous and pay attention to small details, and you will likely sell your house in no time! Good luck!
