What Makes A Home Hard To Sell?

Selling a house is an exciting process, but it's also stressful and full of unknowns. That’s because homeowners often list their houses and are surprised when it doesn't sell right away. So, what makes a home hard to sell?

It will be hard to sell your home if you fail to keep up with maintenance before you list it. A bad location can also contribute to it taking a long time to sell a home, especially if the asking price is high. The time of year is also important, as it’s harder to sell a home between October and February.

Never show your home to potential buyers if it’s full of clutter. Consider hiring a professional stager to make your home look its best before you host an open house. Follow along as we explore what makes a home hard to sell. 

Seven Reasons Your House Won’t Sell

1. Deferred Maintenance

It’s easy to postpone maintenance on your home when you’re worried about money and time. After all, even the simplest home repairs can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. However, the longer you put it off, the more it will pile up.

Suddenly, you may have to spend a fortune and catch up on maintenance before selling your house. Buyers understandably don’t want to purchase a home that needs a lot of work done. In many cases, potential buyers will request that the current homeowner take care of all the maintenance before they buy the house.

It’s much easier to address maintenance issues as they come up instead of waiting until you sell. Make sure your plumbing fixtures, HVAC system, and wiring are in great shape before listing your home. 

2. Bad Location

Location is everything in real estate, and that’s something people consider before buying a house. No matter how nice your house is, it may not sell for a while if it’s in a bad area. For example, many people understandably feel apprehensive about buying homes in high-crime areas. 

The first thing some people do is check the crime rate in a particular neighborhood before visiting an open house. Today, that’s easier than ever as you can find countless websites tracking local crime rates. It’s also sometimes hard to sell a house on a busy road due to noise concerns. 

A home’s proximity to stores, parks, schools, and hospitals is also an important factor. That said, some people genuinely prefer homes seemingly in the middle of nowhere. You can always find a buyer, but a home in a bad location may struggle to sell. 

3. High Price

Buyers often look at many houses and compare prices before they pull they make a decision buy a home. Because of that, they can often sniff out overpriced houses in no time. Nobody wants to buy an overpriced home when there are great options nearby asking much less. 

A lot goes into the process of pricing a house, and that’s something realtors have plenty of expertise in. A realtor knows how to price a house in a way that guarantees someone will buy it for a fair price. However, some buyers understandably want to get as much money as possible. 

That said, you must be careful and listen to your realtor, as they know more about pricing a house than the average person. You can rub buyers and realtors the wrong way if you list your house for more than it’s worth. It’s better to list a house at a fair price right away than lower the price after months or years on the market. 

4. Lack Of Representation

Some people like to cut out the middleman and sell a house without a realtor. However, this is much easier said than done, as selling a house is quite difficult. Sure, you can save a fortune on commission fees, but is it worth the trouble?

In many cases, it’s not worth listing a house without a realtor, as your house may sit on the market for a long time. Realtors conduct housing market research and use it to inform and guide them on how they list your house. Such research affects everything from staging and timing to pricing, and it’s invaluable. 

Realtors also have deep knowledge about the legal aspects of selling a house. This has a lot to do with why potential buyers often feel nervous about buying a home from a seller without a realtor. 

5. Poor Staging

Staging is an important part of selling a house, as it helps buyers visualize themselves in your home. You cannot simply leave your house as it is and expect buyers to find it appealing. For example, the last thing you want to do is show your house while it’s messy and full of clutter. 

You must declutter your home and hide sensitive personal items that may taint a buyer’s vision. It’s always a great idea to hire someone to professionally stage your home. Most realtors can help you with this or at least connect you with a professional home stager. 

Professional stagers know how to place furniture and art in the most visually appealing way possible. Doing so makes a huge difference in how potential buyers view your home. Well-staged homes often sell at high prices. 

6. Timing

Much like how popular vacation towns have an off-season, so does the housing market. The best time to sell a house is between the spring and early summer. This is a great time to buy a house because people often use vacation time and parents don’t have to take their kids out of school.

That paired with great weather is enough to make spring and early summer the best times to sell a house. However, that mostly applies to areas with cold falls and winters, as it finally gets warm during the spring. After all, moving is hard enough without having to worry about snow and freezing temperatures. 

Houses sometimes sit on the market longer than they otherwise would during the fall and winter. Selling a house between October and February is often difficult. That said, many people relocate for work and need houses year-round, so you can list your home anytime. 

7. No Curb Appeal

First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to buying a house. Curb appeal refers to how a house looks from the sidewalk and street. This can include the lawn, garden, fence, doors, windows, driveway, and more. 

Your home’s exterior is just as important as the interior, if not more important. Realtors often recommend that their clients do all they can to boost curb appeal. For example, you can repaint your exterior walls and front door with a neutral color. 

It’s also a great idea to call a landscaper to make your yard look as good as possible. Mow your lawn weekly while your home is on the market and pull weeds as needed. 

How Long Should A House Be On The Market?

Houses typically sit on the market for up to 4 months before they sell. However, there is no iron-clad rule about how long a house should sit on the market. Factors such as location, time of year, asking price, and local population affect the timeline. 

Summing It Up

It’s harder to sell a home with an overgrown lawn, poor landscaping, and deferred maintenance. Take care of your outstanding maintenance needs before you list your home, or else people will hesitate to buy it. You must hire a realtor who understands the nuances and legal aspects of selling a house. It’s also worth the cost to hire a professional staging service to stage your home’s interior. 

Related GuidesZ:

• What Happens If You Buy A House With An Unpermitted Addition?
• Do Dog Doors Decrease Home Value?