Why isn't my home selling?
Selling your home can be a stressful time. You may be thinking, "my house is Ah-MAYZ-ing, the decor is super awesome. What gives? How come no one is buying it?" Sometimes it helps to look with new eyes, there may be areas for improvement that you haven't noticed, or maybe the price needs to be revisited. Here are 6 reasons why your house isn't selling even in a sellers market.
1. Your Home Lacks Street Appeal
If a buyer is just starting out and still working on nailing down the specifics of what they are looking for, we oftentimes will suggest doing a drive-by before setting up the showing. If your home lacks curb appeal, it may be turning away potential buyers before they even step foot in the door. When it comes to curb appeal, aim for well-maintained and inviting. Fresh mulch, a green lawn that is mowed and edged, hanging plants, flower pots, and welcome mats are some of the things that will help give your home that inviting vibe that people want to see.
2. Pet or other Odors
We all get used to our own scents, but when you walk into someone else's home, the scent is one of the first things you notice. Sometimes it helps to ask a friend or family member who doesn't live with you, to walk through your home and give you an honest opinion of the smells. Pet odors, trash, spoiling food, smoke etc., are some of the common odors that turn buyers off.
3. You've Made a Renovation Blunder
Hey, it happens. We've been there. Different people have different preferences. We typically advise clients to start talking with us sooner rather than later. Thinking about updating your kitchen, but you know you're going to want to sell a couple years down the road? It's not a bad idea to start talking to a Real Estate agent earlier rather than later. We typically advise our clients to stick with a clean neutral pallet, one that is pleasing to a majority of people. We can also tell you if it makes sense to put in all new cabinetry or if that super elaborate pantry is going to put you just over the price point of all the other homes in your neighborhood. Talk to us. Use us as a resource. We're here to help you :)
4. You've Missed a Few Spots Cleaning
Sure, this may be the cleanest your house has ever been (and that's great!) but is it going to hold up to the eagle-eyed buyer with white gloves? Buyers notice EVERYTHING. Chipped paint, scuffs and / or dust on baseboards, dirty windows, cobwebs on lighting fixtures, dirty showers. You name it, we've heard it all. Again, get us involved. Nicole grew up in a super duper clean freak household (Thanks Mom!! No, REALLY though!) and she notices all those little things that buyers will point out. We always try to help our buyers bring their homes up to snuff.
5. Is it priced too high?
This is can a tough one. A good real estate agent will know how to price your home just right. We have found that our smoothest deals are the ones where our seller clients trust our recommendations when it comes to pricing the home. At the same time, we respect that this is your home and you value it highly. Perhaps you're in a circumstance where you need to make a certain amount off your home. There are things we can do to price strategically, but at the end of the day, the value of your home is determined by what a buyer is willing to pay for it. If you're not getting any offers, there's a good chance it is priced too high.
6. How is the photography?
Another biggie! We've all seen those listings where it appears as though the agent took the photo while driving past the house and uploaded a blurry mess with a finger on the side. No bueno folks. Not only is this doing you a huge disservice, it is unprofessional. If your agent walks in with a cell phone ready to shoot your photos, it's a big red flag. You deserve better. Run. Preferably in our direction ;-) we always ensure the very best marketing for our clients.
