Your House Isn’t Selling? Try These Tips
The excitement of selling a house is sometimes held back by the stress that comes along with it. That’s especially true if your house takes much longer to sell than you expected. So, what should you do if your house isn’t selling?
Consult your realtor and ask them to list your house on more websites and social media pages if it isn’t selling. It’s also a great idea to hire a stager to make your house look great and help buyers view themselves living there. You may also want to lower your asking price if nearby homes sell for much less.
Otherwise, you must address deferred maintenance and boost curb appeal to entice potential buyers. Some people rent their houses out instead of selling their homes, especially in areas with low homeownership rates. Follow along as we explore what to do if your house isn’t selling.
What To Do If Your House Won’t Sell
1. Hire A Stager
It’s hard to justify buying a house if you can’t see yourself living there. Empty homes are like blank canvases that require a lot of imagination to view positively. That’s why so many homeowners hire a stager to set up their homes to appeal to buyers.
If your house isn’t selling, it may be because of poor staging or no staging. A stager will place furniture and decorations throughout your home to help potential buyers imagine living there. You can expect to spend just under $1,800 to hire a professional home stager, but it can cost more if your home is big.
However, the cost varies based on the size of your home, how many rooms you have, and the rate. For example, you may spend as little as $600 to $1,000 if you live in a small home with few rooms. It’s worth the cost if potential buyers don’t seem receptive to your home.
2. Prioritize Curb Appeal
Have you struggled to even get people to walk through your door? If so, it could be because your home lacks curb appeal, and people don’t want to see more. Even people who walk through your home may be turned off if it has poor curb appeal.
Everything from the landscaping and hedges to your front door and paint can contribute to curb appeal. Worn paint, overgrown grass, weeds, and outdated décor can hinder a home’s curb appeal. You must consider that many people drive by homes before visiting an open house or taking a private tour.
Poor curb appeal can stop buyers from ever walking through the house, and you can’t afford that. It’s worth the cost of hiring a landscaper or painter if that’s what your home needs to have great curb appeal. Painting a home’s exterior costs just over $3,100, on average, which is worth the cost if your house isn’t selling.
3. Post New Listing Photos
First impressions are everything, especially when you sell a house. Today, people typically view listings online and decide whether a house is worth visiting. The pictures that come along with the listing will ultimately determine potential buyers’ first impressions.
Unfortunately, you can’t count on impulsive, unprofessional smartphone pictures to persuade most people to visit your house. It’s worth the cost of hiring a professional photographer to photograph your house. Many experienced realtors can also take great home photos because they know what buyers look for in listings.
Your home should look well-staged, clutter-free, and full of natural light in the pictures. It’s also a great idea to remove items and decorations that highlight too much of your personality.
4. Limited Exposure
Today, potential home buyers are inundated with options. Think about how many websites and even social media pages list homes. Sadly, your house may sit on the market for a long time if it’s not visible on websites and social media platforms.
Consult your realtor about boosting visibility to help sell your house. Your realtor should know of the most popular real estate websites, but they may not know as many third-party sites and social media pages. The more people see your house listing, the quicker you can sell it.
5. Lower Your Asking Price
Nobody can blame you if you want to get the highest possible return when you sell your house. This is natural, but it can also explain why your house isn’t selling. That’s especially true when similar houses in the area sell for less than what you’re asking for.
Location, home size, lot size, interest rates, and the housing market determine the selling price. It’s important to look at houses of the same size in your area as well. Some realtors encourage their clients to list their houses for more than they’re worth.
However, that can be bad advice, as doing so often leads to more stress than it’s worth. The longer your house sits on the market, the more your expenses rack up. Lower your asking price to expedite the process and sell your home.
6. Get A New Real Estate Agent
Do you feel like your real estate agent has held you back? If so, you’re not alone, as many people switch to different real estate agents because they’re dissatisfied. That’s especially true if they have done poor work and you simply don’t trust them.
Refer to your listing agreement before you get a new real estate agent. Some listing agreements have stipulations and clauses regarding switching to a new agent. However, early termination is possible in many cases, especially if the real estate agent does a bad job.
That said, it’s important to review the contract to ensure you don’t face consequences. For example, you may have to pay your agent a termination fee. Be honest with your real estate agent and feel free to consult a lawyer if you’re worried about it.
7. Rent Your House Out
Many people don’t consider renting their houses out to tenants. Doing so can not only help you recover your investment but also earn a lot of profit. This is a great idea in areas where renting is more common than owning a home.
You may face an uphill battle in an area with a low homeownership rate. Renting your house out can reduce the time that it sits vacant. It’s still worth working with a real estate agent to make the process much easier.
It’s worth hiring a property manager if you rent your house out. They will handle everything from maintenance and finding tenants to processing rental payments. However, you can do this yourself if you understand the time commitment it requires.
8. Make Repairs
Potential buyers know better than to invest in a home that needs a lot of repairs. Deferred maintenance can lower home value and make it much harder to sell. You may save money at the moment, but putting repairs off will hurt you when you must sell your house.
A buyer may also put contingencies in the contract that you must make repairs before closing the deal. It’s much better to pay for the repairs before you lose money from having your house sit on the market. This will make a much better impression on buyers and expedite the selling process.
Summing It Up
Hire a professional stager to make your house look great if it isn’t selling. It’s also worth hiring a landscaper and painter to boost curb appeal and attract potential buyers. Otherwise, you can get a new real estate agent, lower your selling price, make repairs, and consider renting instead of selling your house.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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