What to Do If Your Home Just Isn’t Selling – Home Selling Solutions
Selling
You’ve tried everything you can think of but your house has been sitting on the market for weeks (even months) with absolutely no interest. Crickets. You’re motivated to sell your property fast, but nothing seems to be working. What do you do?
If your house isn’t selling, you need to figure out why. Is it priced too high? Are the conditions less than desirable? Does your curb appeal need a makeover? Here are the top three reasons you could have hit a home-selling slump and a few ways to fix the problem (some home selling solutions are simpler than others).
Top 3 Reasons Your Home Just Isn’t Selling (And Your Answers to Home Selling Solutions)
1. Give the Buyer a Break
To start, avoid overpricing your home when you first list it. Buyers will simply filter out your property in their search to find one that fits their budget. Work with your realtor to price your home correctly in the first place and it will sell much faster. Then, be willing to negotiate with prospective buyers, especially with those who come close to the asking price.
See our recent post, “Figuring Out How to Price Your House,” for more in-depth information on pricing your home accurately.
If you’re having trouble selling and haven’t received an offer, consider giving the buyers a break. Though painful, lowering your price is one obvious way to go about it; but you may be able to achieve the same result by being be willing to give a little. Be flexible on closing dates, sweeten the deal with shiny new appliances or offer a flooring allowance. Talk to your agent about what you can do to increase the odds of selling a tough property.
2. Fix the Problems (Literally)
Most buyers today don’t want to move into a house that comes with a laundry list of repairs that have to be made. From dull paint jobs and dead plants in your yard to busted a HVAC system and a leaky sink, you could have trouble selling the home even if your asking price is inviting.
And if undisclosed or hidden maintenance problems are encountered during the home inspection, you could even lose a sale.
What’s the fix? Tackle the bigger, costlier repairs first and be sure to inform buyers about any of the latest upgrades or renovations you’ve made to the house. A fresh paint job can even go a long way. The more “move-in-ready” the home is, the easier it is to sell.
3. Open Your Eyes and Depersonalize
Beyond repairs, it could be because of the orange tile in the bathroom. Or perhaps it’s because of the old futon that you’ve had since college sitting in the living room. While you may not notice the peeling paint on the trim outside since you see it every day, or realize that your family photos (covered in dust) could affect the buyer’s decision. But it can. And it does.
If you have moving boxes sitting out in your kitchen and a mess on the counters, your potential buyers are not going to notice the brand new marble countertops you just had installed. You have to emotionally detach yourself from your home and shift your focus to finding ways to present it as one that any family could move into right away.
Clean up the interior (we’re talking a massive deep-cleaning and decluttering party) and give some attention to your exterior’s curb appeal (like pulling weeds and power-washing the front door).
Go with neutral tones when it comes to paint and furniture, add in some smart technology and make sure everything is as “normal” as possible (remove the collection of tchotchkes and finger painting on the refrigerator). Keep only the bare essentials.
And finally, sorry Fido, but it’s time to send your pet to camp during the showings. When it comes to your animals, buyers would rather not know they even exist.
Finding Home Selling Solutions
As a seller, it can be tough to listen to negatives comments from a potential buyer about your home. Instead of taking them as a personal attack, use them as a guide to fixing the problem to create an easier sale with the next buyer. Ask in depth questions to find out specific feedback and then focus on your home selling solutions.
Getting a property to sell doesn’t always require a complete home makeover or an overhaul of your selling strategy. Sometimes getting out of a selling slump could be as simple as washing your front door, you just have to keep an open mind and be flexible.
