The Reasons Your House Isn't Selling and What You Can Do About It (Part 2)

Last month we discussed some initial reasons your home might not be selling. Here are a few issues that may not be as obvious, but may still be impeding the sale of your home:

Problem: Your home is not easily accessible for showings. Are you getting a lot of showing requests that you are turning down? Many sellers make the mistake of not accommodating a buyer's request for showings because requested showing times are an inconvenience to the seller.  

What You Can Do: Try and remember that your home is a product for sale. Do whatever you can to cooperate with showing requests, even if they are last-minute or during off-hours. Make sure the house is always tidy while you are listed, so if you get a last-minute showing you don't have to run around spending hours cleaning. Do you have showing requests on a rainy Saturday? Take the kids to the museum. And if you get that 7 p.m. showing request, take the family out for a bite to eat that night.

Problem: Your pet is an issue. Pet problems can go beyond the presence of an unfriendly pet barking or jumping on a potential buyer. Pet owners also need to go to extra lengths to make sure to remove pet hair, eliminate dander, and keep odor to a minimum.

What You Can Do: Yes, it's extra effort, but you'll reap the benefit of breaking out the lint brush, keeping the vacuum cleaner handy, and disinfecting areas where your pet has made a mess. Take your pets out of the house during showings or make sure they are crated.  A potential buyer is there to view the home that is for sale, and should not have to worry what your pet is going to do.  

Problem: Your agent is not aggressively marketing your property. Is your home listed in MLS and on public websites? Most buyers are shopping for a home online these days, so having an online presence is highly important. How well is your home being depicted in photographs and descriptions? Have you had enough open houses to showcase your home to the area brokers and to the public?

What You Can Do: First, consider the questions above and assess your answers. If you are dissatisfied with how your home is being marketed, you may need to sit down for a brainstorming session with your agent. Make your concerns and your wishes known. 

Problem: Your agent is not familiar with your area. Did you list your home with an agent from outside of your area? Do they know much about your market, the comparables in your neighborhood and selling features of the community?  Does your broker have to come from far away to simply show the house?

What You Can Do: Listing your home with a local agent is critical. If your agent knows little about the market, the comparables or the community how can they properly position your property for sale? They may be missing important selling features of your home, such as close proximity to a certain coveted school, or the selling price of a pending comparable. If they have to travel a long distance just to get to your property, over time they may lack motivation to show your home.

The bottom line is: Do your research. Selling your home is a partnership between you and your real estate agent, so be an active participant. If you can contribute knowledge and strategy to the process of selling your house, you're less likely to be tripped up by the common stumbling blocks that can prevent a sale.