Ever wonder why some homes sell and others dont? There is no magical fairy dust that can turn a loser of a house into a palace. And, in fact, if there were such a think as magical fairy dust, sprinkling it in your home would make a big mess, and thats a big no-no if you want to sell.
Getting your home sold is not all that hard if you stick to the basics. But if youve got some of the problems below, you may just be sitting on that unsellable home for a while.
Problem No. 1: Because your home is ugly
Yes, your home is ugly. If your Realtor didnt tell you that, let us go ahead and say what he should have. And just so were clear, "ugly" can also stand in for:
Cluttered
Outdated
Dirty
Messy
Tacky
Very few people - investors looking for a deal aside - can walk into an untidy mess of a house and see the potential. If youre not willing to clean it up, clean it out, and maybe make a few overdue updates, you may not get it sold. That goes double for over-personalization that is so in your face buyers cant see past it.
"Everybodys taste is different, so less is more when it comes to decor at sale time. Loud patterns and bold colors can be big distractions," said MSN.
Solution:
You need to de-ugly-fy that house but quick. Pretty places around you are selling. If you have similar plans, similar features, similar lots and theyre selling while youre sitting, its not hard to figure out why.
Take a good long look. If you dont see anything wrong, bring in a few friends for their opinions. But only the ones who might actually tell you the truth.
Problem No. 2. Because your price is unrealistic
This is the No. 1 most common problem with homes that are not selling, says MSN. "If youre guilty of having "a what the heck are they thinking? price tag," they say, you can expect to sit on the market for a while.
"Price is usually the overriding factor in any home that doesnt sell. Whatever its problem, it can usually be rectified by adjusting the price."
Adds U.S. News: "Without question, the No. 1 reason a home doesnt sell is price. Sellers have an emotional attachment to their homes and tend not to be objective about the true value."
Solution:
If it is an emotional attachment thats getting in the way, take the emotion out of the equation and think of it simply as a business transaction. Many times the issue is a seller owes more than the home is worth or simply wants a higher price. But its the market that sets the price. And if its telling you your price is too high, its probably best to listen.
When all else fails, listen to your agent, who should have provided you with comparables that spell out recent sales and market trends. Also See: Its The Price That Sells a Home
Problem No. 3: Because its a project house
Maybe youve made the decision to sell and you just dont want to put any money into a house thats no longer going to be yours. But a house that looks like its going to take too much work - or too much money - to fix up is a turnoff.
"If a home looks as if its going to cost half as much to repair or renovate as it does to purchase, its going to take a long time to move," said MSN. "Todays buyer is a lot more >
The Solution:
"Fix it, or prepare to lop a large amount off the price," said MSN.
Problem No. 4: Because youre not cooperating
This is also the No. 1 reason houses end up overpriced. Uncooperative sellers also tend to ignore other advice from their agent, about keeping the home tidy see No. 1, being available when needed, being open to price reductions, being able to make the house available for open houses, and agreeing to terms when there is a contract discussion.
"No offense, but maybe you arent showing your house off enough? If you arent using a real estate agent and work away from your home, your time might be limited, of course. But you should try to make your house as accessible and available as possible for a Realtor and a potential homebuyer to easily drop by and take a tour which means having the place clean, too," said U.S. News. "Having your home be shown only by appointment or only at designated times will seve>
The Solution:
Get in or get out. Or get in to get out. You have to commit yourself to a process that, quite frankly, can be inconvenient and a hassle in order to get your home sold, especially in more competitive markets. Being agreeable and available, however painful, for this finite amount of time, will pay off in the end.
