11 Mistakes That Will Keep a Quick Sale From Happening
Were you hoping for a quick sale when you listed your home last spring? Did you invest a lot of time and money into your home in order to attract buyers right away? Are you left wondering where all those potential buyers are months later? Don’t panic if the months have flown by and that coveted SOLD sign isn’t in your yard yet. There are possible reasons why a quick sale isn’t happening for you.
What to Ask Yourself When a Quick Sale Isn’t Happening
If your home isn’t selling, ask yourself the following questions. Then make the necessary changes. The good news is it’s all fixable, so there’s no need to panic.
Is my house overpriced?
If your house is overpriced, it won’t sell. To properly price your home, compare your property to others similar to your own. Look at those in your area that have sold recently. This gives you a much better idea of what your home’s true value is.
Note: Don’t make the mistake of assuming that renovations add value. Renovations don’t always translate into added value.
Does my listing do a great job of attracting a buyer’s attention?
Buyers will skip over poorly written listings. And if yours has only a few images, add more to it. But don’t add just any image! High-quality photographs of the interior and exterior of your home are extremely necessary to attract buyer attention.
Note: Don’t forget to list your home’s unique features in the description as well.
Should I be present whenever my agent shows my home?
Buyers don’t want sellers lurking around while walking through a home – not ever, not even during an open house. Your unwanted presence at showings puts unwanted pressure on them. Having you there in the house makes them feel uncomfortable. Allow buyers the freedom to envision themselves and their belongings in the house. Let your agent handle your showings.
Note: Don’t forget to take your pets and their belongings with you before your agent arrives to show your house.
Do I really want to sell this house?
If a part of you really doesn’t want to sell your house, negotiating with or coming to an agreement with a potential buyer will be difficult.
Note: Come to terms with yourself. Move past the attachment you have to your home or any thoughts that your house is the best on the market.
Is my house clean?
A dirty house leaves a bad impression on buyers. You can scrub a lot of what needs to be cleaned before your agent starts showing your house, yes. But hire professionals to help you with carpets and drapes before the first walkthrough takes place.
Note: If you’ve walked on it or touched it, get it clean. You’d be amazed at how dirty your carpets, windows, doors, baseboards, handrails, cupboards, etc. really are.
Does my home need to be staged?
Stage your house. Furniture and decor give buyers a better idea of how big a room truly is and how it can be used. Staging a home well makes buyers feel at home as they tour through it. And isn’t that how you want them to feel?
Note: Even an empty house needs to be staged. Buyers find it difficult to imagine themselves living in an empty house.
Should I pack more of my personal décor?
Take everything that is personal down and pack it all away. This includes all of your family portraits. Your personal décor makes buyers feel uncomfortable. It also makes imagining living there more difficult for them to do.
Note: Trophies, award-winning ribbons, your children’s artistic drawings, and even your prized collectibles need to be packed away from potential buyers’ views.
Is my home too personalized?
This question sounds a bit redundant after that last one. Doesn’t it? But this has to do with bright, loud, bold colors throughout your home. Neutral colors also allow potential buyers to better imagine themselves and their belongings in your house.
Note: For example, don’t scare off buyers with an incredible mural on the wall in your child’s room. Take a picture of it, and then paint over it with an aesthetically pleasing neutral paint.
Do I have too much furniture displayed?
Your home may be immaculate, but it may still feel cluttered. How? Too much furniture in a room makes the house feel smaller than it is. While your home is being shown, live minimally.
Note: Imagine this – an 11’x10′ bedroom “stuffed” with a King-sized bed, two dressers, two nightstands, and a floor lamp feels cluttered! Pack everything but the smaller dresser and a nightstand over to your storage unit and find a twin or full bed to use until the house sells.
Are there too many repairs that still need to be done?
Most buyers do not want to deal with the cost or take the time needed to make repairs. And the more repairs needed, the more unappealing your home is to a buyer.
Note: Walk through your house. Tighten handrails, replace broken tiles, apply caulking wherever needed. Are there broken pull tabs on blinds or missing fan pulls in the house? You get the picture.
Did I choose the wrong real estate agent?
Choosing a great real estate agent makes all the difference when it comes to a quick sale. It’s the most important decision you make when selling your home.
Note: When you list your home, hiring the right real estate professional is the best way to avoid mistakes that prevent a quick sale.
While you shouldn’t panic if a quick sale doesn’t happen the moment you list it, ask yourself why the offers aren’t coming in. Then contact Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent with Fillmore Real Estate. Call (718) 253-9600 ext. 206 or email [email protected].
Charles D’Alessandro
Your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent
718-253-9600 ext. 206
Tags: What to fix to get your home sold, Why is my home not selling quickly?
