Why Isn't My Home Selling
Has your home been sitting on the market for months and you can't figure out why it won't sell? It's likely that you are guilty of, at least, one or two of these home selling fouls:
1. It's overpriced
Did your agent suggest a price range and you scoffed saying, "but our home is so much better than our neighbor's..let's list it for more"? Many sellers are guilty of assigning value to their home that just isn't there. If you have read our Essential Guide To Selling Your Home, you know that sentimental value does not translate into market value. Detach from the emotional connection you have to your home, now that you've decided to move, and price it at what the market says it's worth.
2. You never make it available for showings
In order to sell your home prospective buyers must be able to walk through and view it. It's completely acceptable to reject the occasional last minute showing request, but you should make every effort to approve all showings. It will be inconvenient for awhile, but you want to sell it, right?
3. It's dirty
Your home is much more likely to sell if it's clean and inviting. Buyers have a hard time concentrating on how great your home is if there's dirty laundry everywhere, the floors are filthy, and a full trash can is stinking the place up. Keep your home deep cleaned and fresh smelling. Many buyers are very sensitive to and turned off by strong smells, so avoid plug-ins, potpourri, incense, diffusing oils, or spraying any other aromatic scents.
4. Your dog or cat is roaming around
As unreasonable as you may think it is, we have had buyers turn around and leave after seeing any trace of a dog or cat. Some are allergic and some just see the dander and hair as plain gross. The ideal situation is to find a place for your pet to live until you move. At the very least, keep your pet in a crate during showings. You should also be concerned that the pet will be accidentally allowed outside or some other mishap could occur.
5. The yard and landscaping hasn't been cared for
The first thing a buyer sees when they pull up is the curb appeal of your home. There are certain things you can't do anything about such as the color of your brick or siding. But, you can keep the yard nicely trimmed and the flower beds weeded and pleasant looking.
6. You have too much furniture and too many decorations
Buyers have a hard time using their imagination. The ones that don't are called investors and they don't pay full price. Buyers have a REALLY hard time looking past awkwardly placed furniture and cluttered decorations. If you don't show the home in the best possible light, you won't sell as quickly as you want for the price you want. Use the minimum amount of furniture laid out so the home flows nicely and send the rest to a storage unit. Don't leave family photos and your porcelain bear collection sitting on every shelf and table. You should decorate in a clean, neutral, tasteful way that accentuates the layout of the home. If even half of every surface has some decoration, buyers will be turned off.
“5 Reasons Your Home Will Never Sell”
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