6 Possible Reasons Your Home Isn’t Selling

You’ve finally decided to sell your home. That is a big step, and you’re excited about it. So you take some photos, write up a description, and list your property. Everything is going great until a few days pass, then a week, then a month. And your house is still on the market with no sale in sight. Of course, you shouldn’t expect to make a sale overnight. But it only takes 25-30 on average days to find a buyer (and an additional 30-45 days to close the sale). If more time than that has passed and you’ve made no progress, then it’s normal to get concerned. The good news is that there are many possible reasons your home isn’t selling, and most are perfectly fixable problems. So here are some of the common issues and what you can do about them:

#1 The market conditions are not right

The real estate market is not quite as volatile as some would lead you to believe, but it has its ups and downs. There are times when buyers are few and far between and when properties are flying off the market. Of course, listing your home at the market’s peak would be ideal. You’ll have a harder time selling if you’ve missed your chance. So the first thing you should look into when there’s a lack of interest in your property is the market conditions.

The solution:

You can avoid this problem by either working with a professional who will advise you on market conditions or researching the market before listing yourself. However, if you’ve already put the home up for sale, you now have two options: withdraw the home listing and try again at a better time or turn to creative tactics to help you sell the house. The two main strategies are to make the property more appealing (through fixes, upgrades, and renovations) or lower the asking price.

#2 You’re asking the wrong price

Your house may be priceless, but a potential buyer will want to pay a fair and reasonable price. That means you should not ask for more than the market value and should price in line with similar properties. Even if you are willing to negotiate down from your asking price, you should avoid overpricing, so as not to discourage potential offers. Of course, undervaluing the property is not good either – buyers will see it as a red flag and assume you’re hiding some serious issues behind a low-ball offer.

The solution:

If your house isn’t selling in a seller’s market, the asking price is the potential reason your home isn’t selling. Check out similar properties in the area – how do their prices compare? Get a professional estimate if you’re unsure how much to adjust the asking price.

#3 The listing doesn’t do the property justice

A big part of selling property is marketing it properly. But if you’re working with a real estate agent, they’ll handle this. On the other hand, if your home is for sale by the owner, you’re responsible for creating the listing. So take a closer look at what you’ve posted about your home and treat it like an ad. Would you be interested in your own home the way it’s being presented? If not, then you shouldn’t be surprised others aren’t either.

The solution:

Any real estate listing has two major parts: photos and descriptions. It is typically the photos that are lacking. So get professional photos done of the property. Then spruce up your description. Focus on the positives about the property, and don’t shy away from sharing your enthusiasm about it.

#4 The house looks cluttered and messy

People won’t buy a house they can’t imagine themselves in. And they can’t imagine themselves in your home if it’s overly apparent that your house is still lived in. So if your property is cluttered, messy, full of personal belongings, and very obviously customized to your needs in photos or during showings, that’ll negatively impact your chances of making a sale.

The solution:

The easiest way to deal with this problem is to effectively stage the property for photos and showings. Real estate companies, architecture firms, interior designers, and even moving businesses sometimes offer this service. But if you can’t afford a professional to stage your home, don’t worry – there are still ways to make it more appealing with creative storage ideas for your home. Simply put away all the personal items that cause clutter. You can leave the basic furniture and some bits and bobs but streamline it to make the home look sleek and spacious.

#5 There are specific issues that need to be addressed

Some people like to buy a fixer-upper and work on it themselves. But most people want a home they can move into immediately and without much fuss. So if your home has some issues – a leaky roof, a moldy basement, an unfinished room, drafty windows, old wiring – this might be putting buyers off.

The solution:

You have two options: fixing the problem or selling the house as-is. Fixing the problem will, of course, be an investment. But it can significantly increase the property’s value and make it much easier to sell. Otherwise, you’ll need to lower the price, especially if you’re selling a home that needs major work. You’ll also be limiting your pool of potential buyers. But if you’re not in a hurry, it can be a way to save time, effort, and money that would’ve gone into renovations.

#6 Your property lacks in location

One of the common reasons your home isn’t selling has little to do with the home itself and everything to do with what’s outside the home. Suppose your house is far from amenities such as schools, stores, and cultural institutions, or on a minimal and unwieldy plot of land. In that case, you may struggle to attract buyers simply because nobody wants to live in the area.

The solution:

There’s not much you can do about the location of your home – it is where it is. If you’re lucky, you may be able to finagle some good marketing that glosses over the issues. But what can help you is to focus on improving the property. Forget about renovations that do nothing for home value and focus on high-reward work like replacing windows and doors, upgrading kitchens, and renovating bathrooms. Finally, work on your curb appeal. You may be unable to improve the home’s location, but you can certainly make the home stand out in the area. If none helps, you may need to consider lowering your asking price.

The best way to address reasons your home isn’t selling is to work with a real estate agent

The easiest way to explore the reasons your home isn’t selling is to ask an expert. That is also the most effective way to resolve any problems preventing the sale. It is, after all, a real estate agent’s job to ensure the sale of your home. So if you’re struggling with doing it yourself, ask for help! With the right real estate agent, you won’t have to worry about much yourself. It will be less stressful and faster and easier to sell your home.