4 Reasons Why Your House Isn’t Selling
My house won’t sell and I need to move. What do I do?!
You spend months getting your home ready to sell. You hire a real estate agent, get your home staged, take dozens of photos, and list it online, then the worst happens: nothing happens at all.
Your home sits on the market for months (or years, even) with no interest from buyers, and you’re wondering what went wrong. If you’re having problems selling a house, here are a few possible reasons why.
- It’s Too Expensive
The price of a house is one of the biggest reasons why it sits on the market for longer than it should. If a house is overpriced for the neighborhood, many buyers won’t even look at it.
The best thing to do in this situation is to first talk with your real estate agent and discuss lowering the price. You may not get as much as you wanted initially, but if your house is overpriced and has been on the market for too long, it’s sometimes better to just get what you can for it.
- It Needs Work
If your house won’t sell and you need to move to another one ASAP, it’s understandable that you just want to get your current home off your hands immediately. But it may be worth it to give it a little TLC first.
You may not notice all the minor problems around the house (the kitchen isn’t that old, the floors aren’t that scratched, that crack in the wall isn’t that big) but buyers will. And buyers are looking for any potential problems in the home, even if they seem minor, as an excuse to move on.
While it may cost a lot initially, it may be a good idea to do a few renovations to attract more buyers. Plus, you can usually increase the listing price too to get more bang for your buck.
- The Photos Are Bland
The vast majority of homebuyers look at homes online before they buy, and if the photos of your house are blurry, dark, or otherwise low-quality, they’ll assume your house is just as bland.
Never underestimate the power of good photos, because they can be the difference between selling and not selling your home. It’s worth it to hire a professional to stage and take professional photos of your home, because according to IMOTO photography, homes that use professional real estate photos get 118 percent more views online, sell 50 percent faster, and sell for 39 percent closer to list price.
- You Have the Wrong Agent
Most people don’t think of this option when their house doesn’t sell, since they assume their real estate agent wants to sell the home as much as they do. But some agents—usually unintentionally—end up turning buyers away with their attitude.
If your agent is sick of their job, lacks the appropriate social skills, or is too pushy, they’re likely scaring off potential buyers the second they step in the door.
Make sure your agent is someone you like personally. Because even if they know real estate inside and out, if they don’t have the personality for the job, it could end up costing you.
No matter how desperate you are, just remember that if your house is not selling, you have options. It may cost a little more upfront to do a few renovations, hire a professional real estate photographer, and get a great agent, but it will be worth it the second your house sells.
