Selling your house can be an emotional process. It's normal to want your home to sell as quickly as possible, but sometimes that's not always the case. If your home has been listed for weeks without much interest while other comparable homes are going under contract in days, you might be left wondering if something's wrong with your house.
Odds are, there probably is something about your house or the way it's being marketed that just isn't resonating with buyers. If you're trying to figure out what could be keeping your house from selling (especially in this red-hot market), we put together this guide based on our own personal experience in the industry.
Evaluate your home's listing based on the following information to try and pinpoint exactly what you could optimize.
You Don't Have Professional Pictures
Listing photos are basically the second-most important aspect of your listing besides the actual listing price. Prospective buyers are going to view your online listing and, based on the images, decide if they want to view your home.
If all of the other homes in your area have crisp, professional images in their listings and yours are blurry or don't actually show every room and area of the home, it shouldn't be a surprise you aren't getting much attention.
Here are a few tips for having the best photos possible:
Have your listing photographer take photos during the most flattering time of day for your home. Choose a time with lots of natural light shining through your windows.
Only use photos that make your house look AMAZING. If none of the photos you have look that great, have them re-done.
Make sure you're showing photos of each room. If you have a four-bedroom home but only include pictures of one, buyers might be left wondering what's wrong with the other rooms.
There's Too Much Clutter in Your Home
There's a fine line between having your home furnished to the point where it's cozy and buyers could imagine their lives there… and having way too much stuff everywhere.
A cluttered house will make the space feel smaller and less attractive to buyers. Make sure your home is always prepared for showings by cleaning up and keeping everything free of clutter, even your closets!
Need to quickly get rid of clutter before a house showing? You can get rid of stuff by dropping it off at a local charity or hosting a garage sale. If you still want to keep it, we recommend putting it in storage until your house sells.
The Price Wasn't Researched (or Was Based on an Online Calculator)
If you own a home, you've probably looked it up on Zillow or Redfin to see what it's worth, right? It might seem like your value has grown like crazy!
While this price might shock you (in a good way), it's actually not all that accurate.
Online real estate websites use a mixture of public records and MLS data to show home value estimates. However, their data usually doesn't include similar homes nearby, they might not have enough data, or they just pull numbers that don't hold their value in real life.
Basing your list price on an online calculator has two huge downsides:
If the estimate was valued too high, buyers won't be interested in paying that price and your house could sit on the market.
If the estimated price was too low, you risk losing money on the sale of your home when a lucky buyer swoops in.
We recommend ALWAYS enlisting the help of a qualified real estate agent and property appraiser. They will assess the home's actual value.
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You Aren't Working with the Right Agent
Not all real estate agents were created equal, and they won't always act with your best interest in mind. The higher the home sells for, the bigger their cut is, right?
Before you choose the agent you're going to sell your house with, make sure they have:
The proper experience for the property type you're selling. For example: do they know how to market a luxury home? Are they familiar with your area?
A solid marketing plan for your home. Make sure they can detail their exact plans to market your home.
Resources to help you in your journey. They should be able to refer you to local appraisers, inspectors, or contractors as needed.
We put together a guide on all of the things a good real estate agent should do for you so you can make sure you're working with the right one!
Your Showings Aren't Convenient
We know showings are one of the worst parts of selling your house. It's such a hassle to always keep your house clean and leave so strangers can walk through your property.
But guess what? Showings aren't all that great for buyers, either. They also have to clear their schedule to run around town, typically either during their workday, after work, or on weekends when they have free time.
If you have restrictions on when buyers can set up showings to view your home, such as not allowing anything after 6 pm or on weekends, you could be losing out on a lot of qualified buyers.
If your showing schedule doesn't fit their availability, they'll just move on to the next house.
Your Listing Description is Boring or Unrealistic
While most buyers start by looking at your pictures, they also want to read an engaging description. Buyers are reading tons of these on a daily basis, and you want to catch their eye.
You should use the description to tell buyers why they should choose your house over everyone else's. Don't write a generic, boring description – tell them why your home stands out and exactly what you love about it.
What should you include in your description? Think about items that photos won't do justice to. For example, does the master bedroom have a gorgeous view? Is it on a quiet street? What is the home nearby that makes it a great place to live?
You're Too Attached to Your Home
Even if you could get top dollar for your house, sometimes homeowners simply aren't ready to sell their home.
This is a normal part of the process, so it's perfectly fine if you feel this way. However, you might not realize it's your emotions clouding the home's sale. We've seen this manifest in a few ways, including:
The seller will only accept a certain price
The seller is unwilling to compromise on any aspects of the sale
The seller will only accept an offer with incentives for them, such as the buyer paying their closing costs or fixing any issues that arise during the inspection period
Think about how you truly feel about your home. What is the reason you're selling it in the first place? Are you really ready to part with your home? If your love for your house outweighs the reasons for selling, it might be best to wait a bit longer.
We Can Help You Sell Your Home in Central, NJ!
Are you looking to sell your house in Central New Jersey? Our real estate agents are ready to help! The Aneja Team is #1 in sales volume and transactions in Edison, NJ over the last 10 years.
List your home with us or contact us today for a FREE market valuation!
