February 2nd, 2021 | Sellers
7 Reasons Why Your Home is Not Selling
So, you’re thinking of selling your home, you have realistic expectations and every home around you seems like it’s flying off the market. But some are not! While uncontrollable factors such as rainy weather and vaccine rollouts can have an impact on market activity in any given week, there could be controllable reasons why a home might not be selling.
Here are 7 sneaky reasons your home may not sell!
Bad Photography
For many real estate buyers, the first glimpse at a home is online. The photos included in a listing can make them schedule a showing or move on to the next one. Buyers who aren’t seeing your home won’t buy it, and photography is the first step to getting them in the door (literally!) Make sure your photos are well lit and show every room in the house. More is more in this case. Take pictures of small details and close ups of areas you believe are the best part of your home. Also this is why it’s so important for your Realtor to hire a professional photographer who knows the right pictures to take. Ensure your listing has a virtual tour, people first want to see if it’s worth their time to check out your home in person.
Low Curb Appeal
How many potential buyers are cruising by your home without scheduling a viewing? If you have an unmaintained or boring yard, cluttered front porch or trash strewn about, the answer to that question may be a high number! Curb appeal gets those potential homeowners to stop in and gives them a lasting first impression of your home. Make sure your yard is uncluttered – pick up trash and toys laying around. Plant a few flowers and trim hedges and bushes. Re-mulch or add pebbles to your landscaping to freshen up the look. Don’t forget the front door – adding an extra coat of paint can do wonders!
It Stinks, Literally
Homeowners are often not in tune with the natural scent of their home. What smells fine to you might be off-putting to your potential buyers. Beware of animal smells, diaper pails and smoke, which can give your buyers a negative opinion of your home. Light some candles or put a cookies in the oven for a fresh-baked fragrance. Run a diffusers to make your home smell fresh and clean.
Too Much Clutter
Maybe you still live in your house, but it shouldn’t look “lived-in” if you really want it to sell. Pack away personal items like collections, magazines, toys, books and photos (you’re’ moving anyway, so you’ll need to pack them eventually!) For “clutter” that you need to keep around, such as baby items or things in your home office, consider buying baskets or decorative storage containers to hold the items when they aren’t in use, hiding them from sight.
Too Personal
Did you think that red bathroom was a great idea when you moved in? How about the wall covered in chalkboard paint? Or the purple kitchen? Just because you like a certain colour or style doesn’t mean your potential buyers will, and many can’t see past the colour of the walls to see the structure of a home. Before you put your house on the market, paint your walls a neutral colour and pack away decorative items in an unusual style (that includes those glow-in-the-dark stars on your son’s ceiling.) Let the buyers see themselves in your home. Better yet, allow your realtor to stage your property and consider moving out, so your home can really look like a “model” home.
Poorly Maintained
Broken shutters, a hole in the door, a leaky faucet – potential buyers see those as things they’d have to fix themselves, and might cause them to think negatively about your home. Small upkeep tasks can be finished in a weekend, and go a long way when you’re trying to sell your home. If your partner is not handy and can’t do these small tasks, use an app like Jiffy, which can find you a handy person in a “jiffy”, it’s like uber for your home.
Not Available
You work Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and you don’t want to show on weekends. That’s fine, but limiting the times you’re willing to show your home severely limits the potential for buyers to fall in love with your home. If possible, let your Realtor show your home anytime, or place only a few restrictions on viewing times. More viewings means more buyers see your home, and that’s a great thing for you.
About the Author: Jen D’Angelo is a real estate industry expert specializing in Chicago suburbs homes for sale. When she’s not working, you can find Jen teaching a knitting class at her local community center.
Thanks so much Jen, these are all VERY important things to consider when selling your home, as it can make it or break it.
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Is your home currently listed and you can relate to one of the seven reasons? Let us know in the comment section below.
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