Even though it's been an odd year, real estate has actually bounced back, and in some markets, it's better than pre-pandemic. And if you are in one of those markets in your home is still not selling, it can be greatly frustrating. There are several factors that could be affecting the sale of your home. The most obvious is price and condition, but they are not the only factors. I've compiled a list of 10 tips from real estate brokers Realtors, and agents on why your home might not be selling and what you can do about it.
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#1. Your home doesn't fit the mold of what everyone is looking for.
"If you have a typical home that is very common such as a three bedroom, two-story home in a decent subdivision that's average priced, it'll probably sell fairly quickly. But if you have an unusual home that doesn't the mold of what everyone is looking for, you might sit on the market longer than expected. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to be difficult to sell, it just has to be marketed correctly and priced appropriately. Find the features that really make your home stand out as a benefit, and then market to targeted demographics. Do you live close to a retirement home, great schools, within two blocks of the nearest Starbucks; these are perks that can increase the value of a home regardless of the price and regardless of the actual house itself." Matthew Kennedy, Youngstown New York Realtor
#2. Bad staging... Or no staging at all.
"Not every home will fly off the market even in a great market. Homes still need to be staged and if you let pride get in the way thinking that someone will buy your house regardless of what it looks like, you are gravely mistaken. Did you know that 67% of top agents agree that staged homes will sell for at least 1% to 5% more and 83% of staged homes will get sold faster than those that are not staged. It really does pay to stage her home, even if you're not paying someone to do so. Cleaning up, decluttering, and staging for those photographs will make a world of difference." Mesquite Nevada Realtor
#3. Never neglect curb appeal.
"You should be just as concerned about the curb appeal and staging your landscape as you do about the inside of the house. Most people don't even think about staging their landscape but it truly is one of the first impressions the buyers will see of the home. Getting a professional landscaper and sprucing up the outside will work wonders to those first impression photos." – Kelly Fruit, First Fruits Landscaping.
#4. The photos are horrible.
"Even beautifully staged homes can fall flat if the photos are not amazing. Photos are the first impression that most buyers will see and if those photos are dark, dim, blurry, or just don't do the home one iota of justice, you're not going to get buyers to the door. Those photos have to be amazing and it really does make sense to have someone professionally take photos of the home. The last thing homeowners and sellers want is to sit on the market any longer than they have to. Living in a staged home is not fun so bite the bullet, take the time to stage and take beautiful photos, and then your home will fly off the market… As long as it is priced appropriately as well." – Aaron Shumway, Gilbert AZ Realtor
#5. Your agent sucks.
"I'm sorry, but not everyone is cut out to be a real estate agent. If you've chosen to use a friend of a friend simply because they are getting into the real estate business and need some help, you may sadly come to regret that decision. When marketing and listing a home you need a professional that not only knows the market and how to price the home, but how to appeal to a wide range of buyers. Using an experienced real estate agent means they already have a book of buyers waiting in the wings. They have connections and networks with other buyers agents and may actually have a buyer waiting to buy your home. By using a brand-new agent, they won't have the connections that an experienced agent will have. Yes, everyone has to start somewhere, that this is your home and your investment were talking about; the last thing you want is to sit on the market any longer than you have to and lose out on potential profit." Luis Pezzini, Hollywood Hills Pro Realtor
#6. The property isn't found anywhere.
"I have seen this more times than I care to admit with new agents. They have no idea how to actually list the property on the local MLS and other real estate websites to the home literally cannot be found. You need an agent that is well-versed in online marketing so that your home shows up on as many real estate websites as possible. If you do a real estate search and can't even find your listed home, something's wrong. Make sure you use an experienced agent that knows how to market online so that your home will show up everywhere and get in front of more potential buyers." – Lisa Furman, Plainfield IN Realtor
#6. You're cutting corners on commission.
"Nobody likes a cheapskate… Unless you are a cheapskate. Homeowners that decide to undercut their commission may actually find themselves without any buyers. Yes, it is due diligence and fiduciary duty for a buyers agent to show every potential home and to a buyer, but if that buyer's agent is operating unethically and sees that you are undercutting a commission from the standard, they may simply avoid showing your home. I agree that this is unethical, but there's a slimeballs in every industry and if you are undercutting your buyers agents commission, you may find yourself without a buyer." Jordan Matin, Portland Oregon Realtor
#7. Lack of communication.
"I've seen it time and time again in my decades-long real estate career. Agents are difficult to get a hold of, there's a lack of communication, and nobody is responding. That's one of the most classic ways to lose a deal. If your agent is not responding to questions or concerns by the listing agent or the buyer's agent, you may lose the deal. Again, this is no fault of the actual homeowner or the house itself, but a complete failure on the agent's part. Make sure your agent is responsive and communicative to carry out and close the deal." Leah Plotkin, Parkland Florida Realtor
#8. The price is too high.
"Obviously this is the first thing most people will look at but oftentimes, it doesn't get reevaluated appropriately. Many homeowners think that they can simply price their home high to begin with and then lower the price if there's no activity. The problem with this strategy is that by the time the home is lowered to a price that's appropriate, it is now set on the market too long. This can make buyers wary that there's something wrong with the property other than simply was priced too high to begin with. The longer the home sits on the market the more buyers think that there's something deeply wrong with the property. It's crucial to price correctly from the beginning and sometimes this means pricing at below market value to get a feeding frenzy on the house. But again, this is only to be done in specific markets. Using an experienced real estate agent is crucial to know exactly when to price it and how to price it." Ryan Coleman, Knoxville TN Realtor
#9. The listing has expired.
"I'm not even joking that homeowners have come to me wondering why their home hasn't sold only to find out it's no longer listed on the MLS. They had no idea and this is probably due to an incompetent real estate agent or one that simply does not stay on top of their properties. Homes can expire and if the real estate agent is not on top of it and relisting that property, honing the listing, and marketing it accordingly, it can go expired before anybody realizes it. In my opinion, it's time to find a new agent." Billy Rabbitt, Waldorf MD Realtor
#10. The home is too personalized.
"I've seen it all the time, you have a fantastic collection or memorabilia that you want to show off, but most buyers don't care about that. They want to see the house and if your personalized style is covering up the bones of the property so much so that the buyer can't see themselves in the house, they're going to get out of the house as quickly as possible and that's not what you want. You want buyers to see themselves in the home. This means neutralizing most of the decor and staging for the masses. It's really important to listen to your real estate agent when they give advice and suggestions about staging and preparing the home. Try not to take anything personally. Everyone's trying to get your home sold as quickly as possible for the right price, so it's imperative to listen to the advice of your agent." Andy Dane Carter, Naples CA Realtor
Selling can be stressful but understanding what sells and what doesn't can put you ahead of the competition. Take the advice of these agents and make sure your home is available and ready to sell!