2009 November

Archive for November, 2009

5 Simple Reasons Your House Isn’t Selling

November 2nd, 2009 categories: Home Sellers

Back in school, I was always among the last picked for sports. Coordination has never been one of my qualities. So, I know how homeowners feel when their home isn’t selling and other homes seem to be. Why me?

Why is the real estate market as cruel as the schoolyard these days? It’s often very simple. The real question is - can you change it?

1. Your Photos Are Terrible

Have you actually seen the photos your Realtor took? If they look like they were taken by a five-year-old tilting his head while standing in the dark, then you have a problem. The photos should help to sell the home. And if the photos would scare away buyers, then it’s time to insist your agent take different photos. Buyers are spending hours online looking at photos and if yours look like this, you won’t be attracting any buyers.

2. Your Home is Inaccessible

In order to buy your home, people actually need to be able to see it. This may be a no-brainer for most of you but I actually saw a listing recently that indicated the only time prospective buyers could do a showing was between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Or how about the sellers that follow buyers around the house? Or don’t plow the driveway after a snowstorm? Or leave a snarling dog in the living room?

Buyers don’t need to have unfettered access to your home. However, try to make every effort to let people in with a reasonable amount of notice.

3. Your Home is Cluttered

How many times have I heard, “They’re not buying my stuff. They’re buying the house. They can decorate it any way they want after they buy it.” It may seem silly to home sellers that home buyers today cannot look past your stuff.

Maybe it’s all the HGTV shows but most buyers will focus on your stuff if it’s in the way of them seeing your house. And if they can’t see your home, they won’t buy it.

4. There Are No Buyers for Your Home

While some segments of the market are buzzing, others are dead. Even though there is a tax credit available for first time home buyers, the middle and upper ends of the real estate market have slowed. Financing for investors is also hard to come by.

It’s crucial for you and your Realtor to have a discussion about this. Are you prepared to lower your price to attract buyers? Are you prepared to wait a long time? Is your home as attractive as possible so as to tempt any and all buyers who are looking.

5. Price, Price, Price.

Is your home priced well for condition, location and what’s comparable on the market? It’s not enough to look at past sales - it’s crucial to know what else is on the market that other buyers would be looking at and price at or below those.