Worth the read BUT this is a difficult one as we all look at our homes as special and they are to us BUT not everyone has the same taste. I can remember my first home and all the work we did on it and the new owners came in and took out everything we did. Have to remember the important thing sold in a good time frame and it was no longer my home......... What an exciting moment. The day when you hire your Realtor. Sign the paperwork. Shake hands. Look out your window to gaze upon that flashy For Sale sign in your yard. Oh, those directionals on every corner of the neighborhood. So exhilarating. Pure chills. Then, even more exciting...those first inquiries. The first showings of your home. The first open house. The first second showings. The first low-ball offers. Everything seems like its falling into place. Everything is AWESOME. You should be signing papers at that closing table in no time. But then, it happens. Nothing. The calls stop coming in. Showings are a thing of the past. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months. Your house just sits. And, the longer a house sits on the market, the more it gets stigmatized. People begin to wonder whats wrong with the place? Why isnt it selling? If you dont want your home to be the sitting duck, read on to determine the reasons why your home isnt SELLING. 1. That Home is Priced for WHAT? What Were They Thinking? I cannot stress this point more....price is what sells a home. In order to determine a price to put on the price tag of a home, a Realtor will compare your home to whats selling in the current market. The condition of the home, as well as the location are both very important factors that affect the price. So, why do sellers price their homes so high to begin with? Well, of course EVERYBODY wants to get the most for their home. Also, some people are so underwater, that they cant afford to price it for less. The good thing about this being the main factor why your home is sitting, its an easy, quick fix. Lower the price, and they will come. The buyers of course. If you want to see what the market is pricing your home at, click here to get a FREE Home Pricing Valuation of your home. 2. Tacky or Dated Decor You know that wallpaper that looks as if a flower threw up in your bathroom? Or, that brass ceiling fan thats missing one of its wicker blades? These are the things Im talking about. There is nothing worse than walking into a BEAUTIFUL home, only to realize that youve walked into a 90s time capsule. Ring, Ring. The 90s just called and wants their decor back. With that said, invite friends over and have a ripping that wallpaper down like its your job party. It could be fun. But, it definitely will help you sell that home. 3. The Condition of the Home If a home looks like it will need a lot of money invested into it, then, that investment will ultimately come off of the offering price. I recommend to all of my sellers, that they have a professional home inspector come in and inspect the home. Then, they invest some time and money into repairing what was found in the report. This means everything to a potential buyer. It can also help warrant your home as pre-certified. Find out about our Pre-Certification Program by calling me at 678-458-2284. Also, a home that smells like pet urine or mold will not sell for top-dollar. So, eliminate those smells by ANY means possible. 4. Bad Location The other day, I was driving around a luxury neighborhood in Milton. I mean, these homes are AMAZING. Anyway, there was this one home that was sitting up on a hill. It was beautiful. Something I could only dream about living in. Then, I looked to my right and saw...drumroll...huge power lines. NOOOOOOOOO! I hate to see bad location happen to good homes. Homes that are close to a power plant, waste-treatment facility or busy freeway will often sit, unless the seller is willing to take a major hit on the price. A previous buyer I was working with explained to me that they had to sell their home $100,000 less than their neighbors because of its close proximity to a landfill. So, location, location, location does still pertain to our home market. 5. Your Listing Photos Over 98% of home-searchers are searching online. So, the listing photos will be their first representation of your home. And, unfortunately, some agents dont take or provide professional/appealing pictures of the home. There is nothing worse than that MLS picture of the living room with somebodys foot in the corner. Or, that sideways, upside, inside-out picture of the front of the home. Nothing worse. 6. A Luxury Listing Among Humble Homes This is another location issue, but, its not the landfill or local water treatment company you have to worry about. Its the smaller, less expensive homes around you. When you have a luxury home, surrounded by less valuable properties, your home, therefore, becomes less valuable. For instance, when different builders build in the same subdivision, the homes will variate. The quality, the construction, the size. But, unfortunately, these homes will be considered comparable when it comes down to pricing and appraisal time. I was reading a story online about a home in NY that was originally listed at $799,900. It sat on the market for over 3 years and is now priced at $579,000, a step closer to the ranch homes around it, which are selling in the low- to mid-$200,000 range. Find out what comparables have sold in your neighborhood by requesting a free CMA of your home here. So, here is my advice on getting your home sold for top dollar. Obviously, you cant control the market. You cant control your comparables. You cant control your location. But, you CAN do the following to help your home sell fast: Be Realistic About Price Keep the Colors of the Walls inside Neutral and update as much decor as your wallet allows Be Picky About the Photos Invest in an Appraisal and Home Inspector Most IMPORTANTLY...Hire an Aggressive/Knowledgeable/Determined Realtor. One, that has an aggressive Marketing Plan, who invests in home staging/professional photography and who prices the home right from the get-go. Theres nothing better for a seller, than getting their home under contract before expected. In this case, before the neutral paint dries.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:55:07 +0000
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