Why won't my house sell?
In a perfect world, the home selling process would be straightforward and quick. You’d list your home for sale, schedule viewings, receive multiple offers, and sell your home fast and above list price. Unfortunately, selling your house isn’t always that simple and your home could end up sitting on the market longer than you anticipated.
As a seller, there are few things more frustrating than your home not selling, especially when other homes in your area seem to be moving quickly.
It’s also a fact that, the longer your home sits on the market, the less appealing it will become to buyers. So identifying what is preventing potential buyers from viewing and/or making offers is key so that you can fix the issues and increase the the chances of your property selling.
Let’s dive in and take a look at the most common reasons that slows interest in your property.
Your home lacks kerb appeal
Your house may not be selling because it lacks kerb appeal. Buyers make up their minds about a house within minutes, and often have a “drive-by” before booking a viewing. If the outside of your home isn’t looking its best, you could be losing out on potential buyers. Try to look at your property from the point of view of a prospective buyer – everyone wants a home they can be proud of.
First impressions are so important so make sure that the garden is tidy, wheelie-bins are in a side passage if possible, or somewhere where they are not jarringly obvious, and make the effort to clean doors and windows.
According to our 2019 Homeowners survey, more than 68% of homeowners say kerb appeal was important in their choice of home. The most important factors were windows being in good condition, a well maintained roof and a tidy front garden and driveway/path.
The property feels cluttered
Your house may not be selling because buyers are having difficulty seeing themselves living in your home. Removing unnecessary clutter can make it look bigger and help a buyer imagine their own things in the space. Decluttering isn’t just about hiding away nic-nacs and clearing surfaces – though that is important. If the garden is stacked full of old children’s toys, rusty trampolines and rotting playhouses, or the spare room is crammed high with old furniture and that old running machine you never use, it’s time to clear them out.
Make sure your home is clean, tidy and ideally pet and child free. We know children and pets are usually something you want to showcase but they can be off-putting for potential buyers trying to picture themselves living in your home. Ask your agent about their accompanied viewings service, or try to minimise the noise and space they take up by confining them to one area – it’s what TV rooms and gardens were made for!
Your home needs improvements
Being a homeowner comes with many responsibilities, including keeping your home and property in good condition. Sure, you might vacuum, dust, and mop regularly – but that sometimes isn’t enough. You may need to put a little time and money into your home so you can receive more offers and sell your house.
Furthermore, if you’ve had buyers interested in your home, but maintenance problems are encountered during the home survey, you could end up losing the sale.
Research your options on which home upgrades will give you the most bang for your buck in your market. Hire a professional to avoid any costly DIY mistakes. If you know there are issues that will be highlighted in a survey, make sure to address these before putting your home on the market.
The photos don’t do it justice
Most buyers will start their property search online, so the first glimpse they’ll get of your home will be via photos. Given the wealth of choice offered by most property websites, it is easy for people to pass over pictures which look unattractive or don’t have the ‘wow’ factor. Some estate agents use professional photographers, while others have been taking photos so long they know what items of furniture to shift and when the wide angle lense is needed. But some agents will be better than others. If you’re photos don’t come up to scratch you shouldn’t accept them. You are after all paying the agent to provide these as part of their marketing services. Ask to approve any pictures before they are posted online.
The asking price is wrong
Pricing a house too high happens more often than you might think. Resisting the urge to overprice your home is never easy. The longer your home stays on the market, the more likely it is that you’ll need to drop the asking price.
Getting the price of a property right can make all the difference to the prospects of a sale. The best way to ensure you have the asking price right is by combining online research with advice from at least three estate agents. Bear in mind that some agents will overestimate the initial value of a property as a means of incentivising prospective clients. Other agents may price your house low for a quick sale so they can earn their commission quickly, therefore, it’s important to question each agent on the research they have undertaken to arrive at their valuation.
The estate agent isn’t doing a good job
Many homeowners end up feeling that their estate agent is not doing enough to sell their home. If you believe that to be the case, then make sure you have told your agent that. Ask what else they could be doing to market your property. It’s important to have regular conversations. They should be in touch with feedback on viewings and progress. If not, get on to them. It’s important that they re-assure you that they are doing all they can to actively market your property.
If you need more reassurance, it may also be worth doing some investigative work. Try asking a friend or family member to pose as a prospective buyer in order to gauge the level of service that they receive and to confirm that the person that manages the viewings is knowledgeable and competent.
It’s important to be open with your estate agent about your expectations. They should be in touch with feedback on viewings and progress. If they’re not, get on to them.
If you aren’t being listened to or have lost faith, give notice to terminate your estate agent contracts and move to another estate agent.
How long is too long when selling a house?
If you were hoping your property would be snapped up almost as soon as it hit the market anything more than a few days may seem too long to you! But according to the experts two months is about as long as you should wait before considering lowering the price or switching agent.