You’ve found a great realtor. You’ve fixed all those little nagging issues you’ve put off for months. You’ve even done some great lawn maintenance and put on a new coat of paint. But for some reason, your house is still sitting on the market. It’s just not moving. Why?
There can be a number of reasons. While the ones listed here may be common issues, they by no means will apply to every seller or every situation. Your realtor can help you identify the particular issues with your property. That said, however, these are common problems that may make a house less appealing to buyers.
- It’s a buyer’s market. This means that there are more houses available than there are buyers, so buyers can afford to be really picky. They might see a high price and walk out the door without even really looking at the home. Be prepared to lower your initial asking price by seeing what homes in your area are selling for. If they’re all lower than your house, you may have to settle for less.
- Your home is too dark. If that’s the case, make your home look light and airy. People are looking for large spaces they can transform into their dream house. Open up the curtains, replace all of those burnt out light bulbs, and move things around to make your home look large and spacious. You might even want to remove dark wallpaper or paint over darker walls.
- Your home looks cluttered and dirty. When you’re selling, you want to put your best foot forward. That can be difficult if you’re still living in the home, but you have to do your best to make the property look immaculate. Dust, vacuum, sweep, and mop. Even take a good look at your furniture. No, it’s not a part of the house, but an old, stained sofa is still a turn-off to buyers. Think about covering it with a slip cover. Also, be sure to mow the yard and take out the trash.
- Your home is a reflection of you. While that might sound like a great thing, it may not always be. Imagine what you would think if you walked into a home and found a room full of different clown figurines. Unless you love clowns, it would probably turn you off to the home, even though it’s obviously not something that would stay. Do your best to make your home as neutral as you can. Remove anything that’s religious, political, or a little out of the ordinary.