Are You The Reason Your Home Isn't Selling?

If you thought your home would sell quickly, but you haven't had a single offer so far, could you be the reason?

That's a hard reality to consider, but it's important if you're serious about selling your home. You should examine everything you did or did not do before and after your listing went live. Sometimes a single change can make a big difference.

When you've lived in your home for a long time, it's easy to miss conditions that might be obvious to a home buyer. That's why it's important to seek other opinions when re-evaluating your home. Sometimes you simply need a second pair of unbiased eyes to pinpoint obvious issues. Other times you may require professional input. Use this list of questions as a guide.  

Did you price your home unrealistically?

The selling price is a primary consideration for most home buyers. If your asking price is unreasonably high, buyers may just move on to the next listing. You can still recover from high pricing expectations.

• Adjust your asking price. 
• Be more flexible in negotiating a deal. 

Is your home ready for the market? 

If your home lacks the curb appeal that draws buyers to your door, do something. When you're selling your home, do whatever you must to make it a home buyer's magnet.

• Re-Landscape: Have a professional redo your DIY landscaping.
• Repair: Fix exterior and interior areas in need of attention.
• Repaint: Brighten interior rooms with lighter walls.
• Declutter: Remove unnecessary stuff for a less junky look.
• De-personalize: Remove personal photos, artwork, and mementos so homebuyers can visualize themselves in your home.
• Restage: Consider hiring a professional to rework your interior spaces.  

Is your home not quite clean enough?

When you're giving home buyers free rein, they'll find whatever you missed in your spotless home. Before putting your home on the market, have a professional do a deep cleaning. It will cost you, but they will eliminate problems you might not have noticed.

• Lingering odors: You might be "nose blind" to smells like mildew, pets, and garbage.
• Dust: Soil accumulates on surfaces high and low.
• Windows: Dirty windows keep natural light from entering.   
• Pet problems: Little Fluffy's litter scatterings and carpet stains may disgust a potential buyer.

Are your listing photos a turn-off?

Buyers respond to great photos. If your home has curb appeal, beautiful landscaping, and bright, spacious interiors, your listing photos must show it. It's worth the cost to have them done professionally.

Do you have bad Open House etiquette?

If you've scheduled only a few private showings and had no feedback from your open houses, eliminate yourself as a cause.

• Be available: Say yes to all private showings, even on short notice. Tidy up, leave, and let your real estate agent handle it.
• Open up your home: Establish an Open House schedule. Publicize your events to buyers outside your neighborhood.
• Ge out!: With you hovering and watching, potential buyers will feel more like trespassers than future owners. 
  

Your Real Estate Agent Matters

Most of your problems wouldn't be problems if you'd vetted your real estate professional. When selling your home, you need a real estate agent who will work with you throughout the process.

• Inspect your home
• Make recommendations
• Recommend stagers and photographers
• List your home only when it's ready
• Market traditionally and on social media
• Work with buyers and their representatives
• Execute bid, buy, and closing documents
  

While no real estate agent can make magic happen, a professional will work hard to minimize problems so you can sell your home.

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