Why your friend's home won't sell...
...and what you can learn from their experience.
I think most of us have known at least one person for whom the process of selling their home was long and frustrating. Perhaps it was a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood, one that left you scratching your head and trying to imagine why it did not sell immediately.
The truth is, selling your home shouldn't be difficult - particularly in today's market and with the right real estate professional to assist you. A qualified and experienced agent will provide the guidance you need to avoid these common obstacles that likely caused problems for your friend:
Did they limit potential buyers' access to their home?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when potential buyers can tour it. Being flexible with your schedule is important when you're selling your house, even though it might feel a bit stressful to drop everything and leave when buyers want to see it. After all, minimal access means minimal exposure to buyers. ShowingTime advises:
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when potential buyers can tour it. Being flexible with your schedule is important when you're selling your house, even though it might feel a bit stressful to drop everything and leave when buyers want to see it. After all, minimal access means minimal exposure to buyers. ShowingTime advises:
". . . do your best to be as flexible as possible when granting access to your house for showings."
Sometimes, the most determined buyers might come from far away. Since they're traveling to see your house, they may not be able to change their plans easily if you only offer limited times for showings. So, try to make your house available as much as you can to accommodate them. It’s simple. If no one’s able to look at it, how’s it going to sell?
Did they make their house stand out?
When selling your house, the old saying matters: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Putting in the work to make the exterior of your home look nice is just as important as how you stage it inside. Freshen up your landscaping to improve your home’s curb appeal so you can make an impact upfront. As an article from U.S. News says:
When selling your house, the old saying matters: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Putting in the work to make the exterior of your home look nice is just as important as how you stage it inside. Freshen up your landscaping to improve your home’s curb appeal so you can make an impact upfront. As an article from U.S. News says:
"After all, if people drive by, but aren’t interested enough to walk through the front door, you’ll never sell your house."
But don’t let that impact stop at the front door. By removing personal items and reducing clutter inside, you give buyers more freedom to picture themselves in the home. Additionally, a new coat of paint or cleaning the floors can go a long way to freshening up a room.
Did they price their house compellingly?
Setting the right price is extremely important when you're selling your house. Even though it might feel tempting to push the price higher to maximize your profit, overpricing can scare away buyers and make it hard to sell quickly. Business Insider notes:
Setting the right price is extremely important when you're selling your house. Even though it might feel tempting to push the price higher to maximize your profit, overpricing can scare away buyers and make it hard to sell quickly. Business Insider notes:
". . . the biggest mistake sellers make is overpricing their home."
But don’t let that impact stop at the front door. By removing personal items and reducing clutter inside, you give buyers more freedom to picture themselves in the home. Additionally, a new coat of paint or cleaning the floors can go a long way to freshening up a room.
Every home is the perfect fit for someone - as long as it is priced correctly, presented well, and made available for a closer look. If you are thinking of selling your home, I'd love to help you do exactly that.