A significant number of U.S. cities are currently experiencing seller’s markets – conditions that should make it easy to sell your home. Despite favorable conditions, though, some sellers find their properties lingering on the market far longer than expected. What’s the problem? If your property isn’t attracting interest, one of these 4 common, and easily fixed, issues may be at play.
Lack Of Landscaping
You don’t need to have an impeccable garden to ensure that your home has curb appeal. It’s more important that you ensure your home’s exterior is tidy. Make sure the lawn is mowed, any garden beds are weeded, and there aren’t any debris or trash lying around. No one wants to buy a house that looks like it’s been abandoned or that they’ll have to spend the first several months cleaning up.
Photo Failures
Most people come to view a home based on the photos posted online, and that means that if your pictures aren’t up to par, no one will come to see your home. In fact, people won’t even click on your listing to look closer. If you want your home to sell, then, take your listing photos with a DSLR – these professional style photos garner 61% more pageviews than comparable homes at every price level.
In addition to using a professional camera to take your listing photos, you’ll also want to ensure that the lighting is right and that you’ve taken the time to stage your rooms so that they look their best. The fact is, the ways in which we actually use our homes rarely reflect how they look best when photographed or presented to strangers. Pack up the clutter and ask your realtor for tips on making the space showing-ready before you photograph it.
A Matter Of Phrasing
As noted, your photos are an important part of your home’s listing, but they’re not the only factor. You also need to use the right language in your home’s listing. So what should you say – and what words should you avoid? To begin with, it’s good to be specific. Hardwood floors are an attractive feature, but specifying the kind of wood can set your listing apart. You should also read other listings for your area, since certain terms are popular in different regions; Hawaiian homes may boost a lanai (a kind of porch), while St. Louis homes frequently mention stained glass. The right details are regional, so do your homework.
Not only can the right words make your home more attractive to buyers, but some even correspond with an increase in home price. While a fixer-upper or starter home might send buyers running, then, words like luxurious and impeccable can boost your home’s sale price by several percentage points, according to Green Residential. In a seller’s market, you should leverage that room for price growth.
You Stayed Home
No one knows your home better than you do, so it’s understandable that you want to stay home and participate in the showing – but you shouldn’t do it. Don’t hang around during tours or the open house. Let your realtor take control of that part of the process and find somewhere else you can be during that time. Potential buyers don’t want your impressions of the home; they want to form their own. Owners who hang around during the showings just seem overbearing and like they’re going to make the sales process harder.
If your home is slow to sell, obsessing over how long it’s been on the market isn’t likely to help. In fact, it’s just going to make you feel depressed and unmotivated. Instead, take some time to assess the situation and determine what’s holding your home back. The most common home listing mistakes are easy to fix, and can help your home grab the attention it deserves.
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