10 Reasons Your Home Hasn't Sold
If you have done anything to try to sell your house but still don't have it sold you may want to see if one or more of these home selling problems could be getting in your way. These aren't hard and fast rules but because people just aren't that way. Most buyers want things the easy way and do not have the great vision to see past the problems you and your house present. You can easily fix most of these home sale stoppers. If you have real estate for sale make sure it's really for sale!
Poor Home Landscaping Keeps Buyers Moving OnIf you are selling your house but your lawn and yard are unsightly will your prospects even bother to get out of their car to look further? The high weeds, uncut grass and overgrown shrubs show a lack of care on your part that will keep many buyers in their cars and moving on.
Even if they can't get in to see your house right away, you want them to get the contact information and come in later, don't you? Trim and edge you lawn and tidy up the shrubs. Pull the weeds and put something attractive in the yard like flowers, yard ornaments (no pink flamingos). Remove the trash and junk laying around the outside of the house also.
Most buyer's are on strict time schedules an have to plan carefully to be able to see your house. If you limit when they can view your property they may just move on to something they can see during the time that they want to go house shopping. Do your best to allow convenient times to see your house. Don't impose restrictions like must have 2 days notice or no weekend showings allowed. Once you make an appointment, KEEP IT!. Most buyers will give up if you put them off more than once or without an excellent reason.
I know you don't intend to say things that are put-offs to buyers but talking too much and pointing out every unnecessary detail can keep your buyer from focusing on what is important to them. They don't care about your life history or all the stories associated with each room or feature in the house. Skip the story about the dog vomiting on the carpet or the time eggs exploded all over the ceiling. This is why many real estate agents ask the homeowner to leave during showings.
Your 100 pound German Shepherd may be a gentle, loving pet but your house guest could be a little put off. Your cats do make a mess and no one wants to see kitty litter scattered across the kitchen floor. Stains and smells are not going to leave a good impression either. If some is going to be showing you house for you, make sure there is an easy and safe way to deal with the pets that are present. Isolated them yourself when possible. Clean up their messes and do your best at odor control.
You are used to the way your house smells so it does not bother you too much. Any odor definitely will be noticed by your prospects. It will be the first thing they experience when they open the door and it will leave a permanent impression of the kind you do not want. What you want to go for is a clean and fresh smell. Whatever you do never try to cover up odors by using strong scented deodorizers, incense and candles. Your over-powering cover-up may be nearly as offensive as the odor you are trying to mask.
Try an ozone machine or carbon filters to reduce odors. There are also special cleaners you can use that contain enzymes that break down odor causing molecules.
Take out the trash, it may not smell bad now but that could change in an hour or two. Run the air vents, open the windows for awhile, smoke outside and change the bedding in any pet cages.
Some people are allergic to certain smells. Do you think a person that has an asthma attack when they enter you house is going to buy? A strong odor will make the prospect want to finish the showing quickly so they can get out and on to the next house. You want your house to be the last house they consider, don't you?
Just like odors, dirt will be a big turn-off to many buyers. Especially the ones that can pay you full market price. Dirty things just don't look appealing or as new. It also give people the impression that you don't care and likely have not taken good care of the house. An investor buyer may be able to overlook the dirt but they will not pay you anywhere close to what a retail buyer would.
Don't settle for the discount prices an investor will offer when all that is needed is a good cleaning.
Your prospects came to see what they are getting not all the stuff you have accumulated.
You are planning on moving, right? Go ahead and prepare in advance by clearing out the unneeded stuff that's packing your closets, lined up along your walls and filling your garage and attics. Sell it, give it away, toss it or put it in a off-site storage locker. Then your prospects can see all of your house, they won't bump into and stumble over the stuff and they will get they impression that the house is big enough to hold their belongings too; not, “there's no where to store things in this house.”
The typical home buyer just wants to move in and carry on with their life. If they see a big project ahead most buyers will steer clear. Move in ready includes:
This is not meant to be personal but your attitude about selling your house can get in the way. It may be so subtle that it's hard to identify the specific effects your attitude is having on the sales process. The best advice here is to focus on the positive outcome you really want. Your inner reservations about selling are being brought to life by the difficulties buyers are having. You do not have to see or understand the logical connection; just know that being clear and committed about your intentions to sell will result in a faster home sale with better terms for you.
Doing these little things can add big bucks and cut months of time when you are selling your home.