You have loved living in your home and whatever reason you have for selling up and moving on, it can be frustrating and mystifying when buyers don’t seem to share the same positive view of your property.
If your house is struggling to find a buyer here are some tips and ideas to help get it sold, including why you have to be realistic with your ambitions on price, some insights on curb appeal, plus some pointers on whether photos or pongs could be a problem.
A dose of realism
When your realtor compliments you on your property and suggests a listing price, there are a fair number of homeowners who are confident that the recommended value is a bit on the low side and their property is likely to be snapped up by the first person to view it. You might be right and you could get lucky with a quick offer, but the reality for many of us is that homeowners and agents can be too confident, especially in a seller’s market. It is often not enough to love your home to get the top sale price, you have to show buyers why they should feel the same way.
There are two distinct components to the initial sale process. The first is getting the price right so that you get people interested enough to come and take a look around, secondly you have to present the property in the best possible light.
Cast a critical eye
It is very easy to get used to your own surroundings and not see things that others would if they were viewing your property for the first time.
When you get an agent like STL Real Estate to come around and give you a valuation for your property, it should be hoped that they give you an honest appraisal and point out some of the faults and aesthetic issues that might have a detrimental impact on the price.
If you don’t want to have that potentially uncomfortable conversation and also want to give yourself the best chance of getting a great price and a quick sale, it would be a good idea to do your own evaluation before inviting an agent to look around.
Start outside your property and imagine you are viewing it for the very first time. Make a note of any issues like peeling paint, broken fences, or signs of tiredness that are having an adverse impact on the property’s curb appeal.
Cast a critical eye inside your property as well and make a list of jobs that you can do to tidy things up so that your home is ready for inspection when someone new sees it for the first time.
Is there a problem with the photos?
You only have a matter of seconds to make a positive first impression and that means that your house could potentially be overlooked by a buyer if the listing details and photos are subpar.
There are only a handful of buyers these days who don’t start their search for a new home over the internet, so if their first glance of your property is not favorable one simply because the photos aren’t up to scratch, this could be a reason why you are not getting people booking a viewing.
Always check and approve the photos that your agent is proposing to use online and in the printed sales details.
Professional real estate photos can be critical in generating the initial interest you need to find a buyer, so if things are not happening as quickly as you hoped after listing, check that the photos are up to scratch.
Ideally, check and approve the images before they even get a chance to find their way online.
Sell with smell
It might be an old cliche about the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baking having a positive impact when a buyer enters your home, but there is some truth in the idea and the opposite scenario is true, where buyers could easily be put off by some unpleasant smells in your property.
Get an honest opinion from someone your know to find out whether the smell of pets or mildew is creating a persistent pong. You can get used to the smell of your own home and it might be fine, but if it isn’t it would better to find out now and get the scented candles out before a potential buyer turns up.
There are always some potential fixes to look at if your house isn’t selling and if you want to get the money for your home that you think it’s worth, it would be a good idea to find out what it is that seems to be putting people off
Molly Woodward works in the real estate world and shares tips and tricks for selling, and buying, a home around the web.
