There’s nothing more frustrating than putting your property up for sale and having it sit on the market for several months or more. Over the years, we’ve observed certain similarities in the properties that don’t sell.
Here are some of the reasons homes don’t sell — and how to fix it:
- You need better images and property descriptions online. In 2020, 63 percent of buyers made offers on houses they never saw in person, reported The Washington Post. Professional photos and romance copy about your house, its features and location are what buyers look to when making their decisions now. Your photos should be well lit, free from personal photos and clutter. Consider hiring a professional photographer, who can really help you tell the story of your property visually.
- The price is too high. A house is worth what people are willing to pay for it. As a result, the idea of a house being priced “too high” is often subjective. However, if other comparable homes in your neighborhood sold for $50,000 - $100,000 less than your list price, you might struggle to move it off the market. That’s why it’s important to check the sale price for similar homes in your neighborhood and area. It gives you an idea of what people are willing to pay.
- Location, location, location. Real estate locations might be the only factor that matters more than the property itself. It’s not always a poor reflection of the neighborhood. A house could be located near a highway overlook, train or fire station. If you’re selling your house yourself, you may have to address these pain points in your conversations with buyers. To get ahead of concerns, real estate agents typically frame it in the positive. For example, the highway overlook adds lighting to your street, which could help provide added security. It also makes the commute to work easier.
- The house isn’t clean. Sometimes, it takes several showings to find a buyer. Each time, your house will need to be spotless. That can be difficult for sellers who are still living in their house, especially if they have kids or pets. Clutter, such as kids’ toys on the ground, boxes or pet beds can also make rooms difficult to navigate. Make sure all objects are removed from the ground before showings and consider hiring a weekly professional cleaning service. This can help ensure everything is in tip-top shape, no matter when buyers want to see the property.
- It’s too taste-specific. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home. Décor that is too taste-specific, such as bold furnishings or bright accent walls, make that hard to do. For that reason, real estate agents often advise sellers to move out first, if they are financially able to do so. That gives you the opportunity to paint walls a more neutral color and remove taste-specific furnishings. It also helps your buyers see your house as a blank canvas that they can paint however they’d like.
- Your entire family and pets are home during showings. Open houses and showings can be a bit hectic anyway. When you add children and pets into the mix, it can be overwhelming for potential buyers. Additionally, it can sometimes create unexpected messes, including toys on the ground or hair shed on the furniture. The best way for buyers to imagine themselves in the home is if they are the only ones there.
Still struggling to get your house off the market? Meridian Trust is a professional home investment company that pays cash for properties “as is” in Florida, Georgia and Texas. You can also receive payment as quickly as five days from receiving your signed contract. No inspections, closing costs or brokerage commissions. You don’t want to jump through hoops to sell your property and we don’t want you to do that either.
Call us today for a free, no-obligation cash offer: (954) 807-9087.