Hi Desert Real Estate Forum

Why isn’t my house selling?

If you are like many seller’s in this market, you may be wondering why your home is not selling. There are many reasons homes don’t sell, but by far the most common reason for a home to sit on the market is price.

Many home owners with homes currently on the market either bought during the “boom” period, or refinanced their homes. This leaves the home owner with less equity (if any) in the home now than during that period of appreciation. It is important to keep in mind that the amount owed on a home has no bearing on the market value of the home.

Ask yourself, “how does my home show?” The biggest influence on a buyer is the first impression. Take an afternoon and drive by some of the comparable properties in your area and see what the competition is doing. Is the yard clean and welcoming, or is it accented a broken down vehicle surrounded by wild flowers (weeds). How does your roof, swamp cooler, fascia, and fences appear? Spending a little time and money on these items will greatly enhance marketability. You cannot sell your home if no one goes inside.

After you have now gone out and spruced up the exterior of your home it is time to focus on the inside. The biggest interior detractor to selling your home is clutter. Since you will be moving when the house sells, get a jump on your packing and get rid of many of your personal items, collectables, and tone down the “I love me” wall (the military guys know what I mean). The living room with the big screen TV and 2 sectional couches may be great for watching the games, but takes up way too much space and makes your living area seem smaller than it actually is. Removing clutter is especially important in the kitchen, the buyer cannot tell how much counter space you have if there are too many appliances displayed. Box up the ones you don’t use daily get them into storage. This will give the appearance of space. In other words, give the buyer a blank canvass to work with.

Many sellers feel that their home is “special” and therefore worth more than a comparable home. While many upgrades, color choices, amenities, etc may fit the life style of the current owner, these items do not always translate into value at point of sale.

For example, if your prospective buyer is not a Raiders fan, the black and silver room will probably not help the sale. Neutral colors (whites and light browns) are very pleasing to the eye and give the home an open and warm feeling.

Finally, if you have pets it is important that there are no signs of pets when the house is shown. Not all buyers are pet lovers, some are even allergic. Pet smells, stains, hair on furniture, toys and beds, and droppings in the yard are all big negatives to most buyers. If practical, have the pets removed during times of showings.

I have covered a lot of items and it may all seem overwhelming but the market is very competitive and anything you can do to make your house more attractive will pay dividends in the long run.