It’s frustrating when you need to sell your home, but no buyers seem interested. The “For Sale” sign in the yard isn’t always an instant beacon to buyers with cash in hand. The real estate market fluctuates year to year and even month to month, its sales dependent on many factors beyond simple supply and demand.
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that 5.34 million existing homes sold in 2018 across the country. But not every house sells.
What keeps a house from selling? The list of reasons can be long and may include:
- Price (overpriced for market)
- Neighborhood issues
- Too many other “better” homes nearby also for sale
- Needs repair or updates
- Overall appearance is unappealing
The longer you have the house on the market, the harder it can be to sell it. On average in the U.S., a house for sale sells in 68 days. Why isn’t your house selling? Let’s take at what to do if your house won’t sell. It starts with enticing serious home buyers and securing a sale.
Improve Your Curb Appeal
It’s true, first impressions are key. If a home for sale lacks curb appeal, it generally takes longer to sell. Increase curb appeal with these easy fixes:
- Mow the lawn, remove weeds, trim bushes
- Remove any junk or debris from the front yard, driveway, and/or porch
- Add a pot (or two) of fresh flowers for a pop of color
- Replace/add a welcome mat
- Sweep the porch (especially removing any cobwebs)
- Replace broken light bulbs
- Replace/fix old or broken house numbers
- Paint or replace the front door
- Clean front porch furniture, add brightly colored cushions
- Clean front windows
De-Clutter: Less is More
Even a home with minimal square footage can feel and look larger if it’s not cluttered. This is an opportunity to sort through personal items and decide which can be donated, tossed, packed for storage, and even sold for extra cash. It can be easier for potential home buyers to envision themselves in the house if it’s not filled with your collectibles and family photos.
Be sure to de-clutter bookcases, shelves, and tables. When surface spaces are clear, the room feels more open. Renting a storage unit may be a solution if there’s no space to accommodate your packed items.
Are Renovations Right?
When contemplating why your house won’t sell, it’s important to decide if renovations may be what’s needed to attract buyers. Some homes need renovations because without, there are safety or health hazards.
However, others may need only minor work to update and improve the home. Bankrate offers a list of renovations that provide the best resale value, including replacing the garage door and entry door—both of which can add curb appeal.
Update the Listing
Once you’ve improved the curb appeal, cleaned, de-cluttered, and completed any renovations it’s time to update the listing. Add new pictures and be sure to share the listing online via your social media accounts.
Price for the Market
If your listing price is too high for the current and local market, that may be the main reason it’s not selling. Look at other comparable homes nearby that recently have sold and price accordingly. The home may have sentimental value for you, but it doesn’t for buyers, and they won’t pay extra for that sentiment.
Selling any house can take time, cost money, and cause stress. Let HomeGo solve the dilemma of selling a difficult house. With HomeGo, you receive an instant cash offer and there are no closing costs or fees. HomeGo handles all paperwork and you can relax knowing professionals are on the job.
