Why didn’t my house sell?
In today’s market, it may sound like all you have to do is put the FOR SALE sign in your front yard and the buyers will come to knock down your door. However, if you put that sign out and don’t have the results you were hoping for, here are a couple of things you may need to do to get that desired outcome.
One of the most overlooked reasons it may not have sold is that the home wasn’t accessible enough. Of course, that’s not to say you can’t maintain any freedom in your home schedule. However, if you are limiting the time or days that your house is available for showings, you cut down the number of potential buyers. If a buyer sees your home online and loves it, but can’t get any appointment to see it, they can simply move on to a different home with a more accommodating schedule.
Secondly, did you look at your home through buyers’ eyes? By this, I mean, if you were just seeing your home for the first time, what would you see? The buyer should be able to feel like they’re able to just move in and start their life there, and not be distracted by little things that could’ve been done beforehand. Examples of this would be keeping the lawn maintained, having a clear path to the front door, clearing out your gutters, trimming your hedges, pulling weeds–anything to make the home attractive! As for the inside, many times you’re still living in your house while it is on the market, so if that is the case, be sure to keep it as clean as possible. Swept floors, clean countertops, dusted bookshelves, and clean windows can make a huge difference!
Lastly, a crucial reason homes sit on the market is overpricing. Your realtor should be giving insight on the market and what homes that are like yours are selling for and provide comps. A pricing strategy goes a long way, and ultimately you have the final say as to what you’d like for your home, however, the numbers and your agent will be a great resource as to how to get you the results you desire. If your home isn’t getting a lot of showings, this could be a key reason.
Of course, each home and listing are different so talking to your realtor can help to pinpoint your specific needs to get the results you want. I would also recommend talking to your realtor about feedback and making sure you have access to feedback on showings in your home so that you are able to see if many buyers are saying the same thing and make changes accordingly. If your home was for sale and expired, it is understandable to be disappointed and frustrated. If you’re still working with your agent, talk to them about what to do next–if not, reach out to me and let’s make a plan to get you where you want to be!