You put your home up for sale and it simply didn’t sell. Undoubtedly, this has created undue stress, inconvenience and anxiety for you and your family. What Should You Do?

The first thing you want to do is analyze the situation. Assess the factors that have led to your home not selling. Below are my top five reasons why homes don’t sell in this sizzling hot market:

Condition Of The Property

The house should be spotless. Clean inside and out. All cosmetic things should be in good shape (ie. paint, landscaping, window coverings and flooring). It never ceases to amaze me how most buyers refuse to look beyond the superficial cosmetic shortcomings of a home.

Easy cost-effective Do It Yourself (DIY) projects include:

Landscaping: Make sure the lawn is in good shape and trees and shrubs are neatly trimmed. One should also make sure the rain gutters are clear. If you don’t have time to do it, pay someone.

Exterior of home: Make sure there is no chipped paint, dirty windows, or clutter in the yard.

Interior: Make sure the carpets are clean and attractive, the walls painted, kitchen clutter-free and spotless windows. It is highly suggestive that you remove excess furniture as it makes rooms appear much smaller. Make sure clothes are organized in closets and the smell of the home is appealing (tip: citrus or vanilla scented candles very appealing to most buyers).

As your real estate agent, I can advise you on the best, most cost-effective repairs you can make to give you the most “bang for your buck.

Was Your Property Aggressively Marketed?

Another primary reason for home listings expiring is a simple lack of exposure. With inventory at all time lows, a listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) alone should generate an adequate number of buyers. However, if your home is priced above FHA loan limits, inventory is likely to increase in your area as the pool of qualified buyers shrinks. This means that your listing will need an aggressive marketing plan. If your listing is languishing on the market, you need to ask- “What is your real estate agent doing to aggressively market your home?” 

I would love to share with you my detailed marketing plan that will be the driving force behind getting your home sold expediently and for the best price.

Pictures Or Lack Thereof

The majority of buyers begin their search for homes online. Naturally we are visual creatures, so it is highly suggestive that the quickest way to make a large impression is through PICTURES, lots of them. Pictures alone will not sell your home, but they will sure get buyers in the door.

I see too many listings that have one of the following problems:

• Few pictures, usually of the exterior of the home.
• Terrible pictures (ie. low quality, low lighting, narrow focus).

If your home is lingering on the market, good questions to ask your agent are:

• What have you done to visually showcase and market my home?
• How many pictures and videos did they take and where did they market them?

I pride myself in having professional quality photo shoots of your home- including still images, panoramic views, and aerial video.

Is The Property Overpriced?

Overpricing your property is usually the number one reason it did not sell. If homes in your area with similar features (ie. beds, baths, sqft, lot size etc.) are on the market at a significantly lower price, chances are that buyers will buy those homes first. Your home should be competitively priced among similar properties in your area. If you would like to sell your home expediently and for the best price, you should price it either at market value or slightly below.

In order to do this effectively, you should contact an experienced real estate agent, who will help you establish the best price based on the competition. The major pitfall with overpricing is the subsequent price reductions that must occur to achieve the sale. More often then not, you open yourself up to the possibility of missing out on would be buyers, those who buy comparable homes in the area.

Finally, and Most Importantly, Did you Hire The “Right” Real Estate Agent?

Many agents work hard and employ strong marketing techniques. Many agents have a strong network and access to buyers. Many agents work hard to get your home sold. However, many do not.

Like in any profession, there are those who are very effective at their job and there are those who are ineffective. So if your home has not sold, you should ask yourself the following:

• Did my agent simply place the house in the MLS?
• Has my agent informed their network of buyers about the property?
• Did my agent take the time to prepare an impressive listing package for prospective buyers- including professional quality photos, and a detailed sales description highlighting major selling points?
• Did my agent use an aggressive advertising campaign?

In short, was your agent passionate about selling your home? If not, now is the time to find a new agent, one who will get your home sold.