Why did that house sell and mine didn't!
Posted 06-21-2014 at 05:22 AM by EricB515
1.Your neighbor was more realistic about their asking price.
We value a house differently when we live in it. A "house" soon becomes our "home," and we put more value on our "home" than we do for the bricks and sticks of a house. The problem is, buyers expect to purchase a house with painted walls, a non-leaking roof, and reasonable landscaping. They are searching for the best "product" they can obtain for the money and aren't interested in reimbursing you for your maintenance and upkeep. Pricing must be calculated on what buyers are paying for homes similar to your's, not your emotional value.
2. Your neighbor's home was in better "show condition."
Preparing a house for the market is different than living in your home. It can be quite inconvenient to remove small kitchen appliances, store excessive furniture, and depersonalize your walls and shelves, but that is what is necessary in order for a buyer to visualize themselves living in your house.
3. Your neighbor's home was easier for Realtors' to show.
We, as agents, wish we could always set exact appointment times, with 24-hour notice, for each showing. Unfortunately, that isn't the real world. Buyers are late, they don't show up at all, they drive by a house and want to see inside, they drive by a house and want to keep driving . . . There are a hundred reasons why it is hard to only show your home on "Saturday morning at 11:00 AM," or always give you hours of notice, or only come by when you are home.
The more flexible you are with showing times, notice, and allowing a keybox at your house, the more likely it is for your house to sell.
4. Your neighbor left the house when it was being shown - and took the dog with them.
Showing homes to buyers is an art. They need to feel comfortable and "at home." They need to think through how they would set-up their own furniture. They need to visualize cooking in the kitchen, watching TV in the family room, and working in the backyard.
This is very difficult, if not impossible to do when you, the seller, are walking them through your home. You may be anxious to sell your furniture but that distracts the buyer. You may mention how there are plenty of kids in the neighborhood, but that is exactly what they don't want. You may want to brag about how great your church congregation is, but they are atheist. You get the idea. The more you talk, the more likely it is that you could say the wrong thing. Leave the house and let the professional Realtor demonstrate it to the buyers.
5. Your neighbor was willing to negotiate.
In today's challenging market, buyers want to feel they negotiated the best deal they could. They always offer lower than the asking price, they almost always ask for closing costs, and they frequently ask for extras, like your fridge or washer and dryer.
The owners who sell fast are the ones who are flexible and never turn away an offer - it may be the only one that comes their way. When you’re ready to sell your home you realize it’s not yours anymore. The best thing to remember is when you buy a house you’re fixing it up to sell ….unless you’re planning to never move.
We value a house differently when we live in it. A "house" soon becomes our "home," and we put more value on our "home" than we do for the bricks and sticks of a house. The problem is, buyers expect to purchase a house with painted walls, a non-leaking roof, and reasonable landscaping. They are searching for the best "product" they can obtain for the money and aren't interested in reimbursing you for your maintenance and upkeep. Pricing must be calculated on what buyers are paying for homes similar to your's, not your emotional value.
2. Your neighbor's home was in better "show condition."
Preparing a house for the market is different than living in your home. It can be quite inconvenient to remove small kitchen appliances, store excessive furniture, and depersonalize your walls and shelves, but that is what is necessary in order for a buyer to visualize themselves living in your house.
3. Your neighbor's home was easier for Realtors' to show.
We, as agents, wish we could always set exact appointment times, with 24-hour notice, for each showing. Unfortunately, that isn't the real world. Buyers are late, they don't show up at all, they drive by a house and want to see inside, they drive by a house and want to keep driving . . . There are a hundred reasons why it is hard to only show your home on "Saturday morning at 11:00 AM," or always give you hours of notice, or only come by when you are home.
The more flexible you are with showing times, notice, and allowing a keybox at your house, the more likely it is for your house to sell.
4. Your neighbor left the house when it was being shown - and took the dog with them.
Showing homes to buyers is an art. They need to feel comfortable and "at home." They need to think through how they would set-up their own furniture. They need to visualize cooking in the kitchen, watching TV in the family room, and working in the backyard.
This is very difficult, if not impossible to do when you, the seller, are walking them through your home. You may be anxious to sell your furniture but that distracts the buyer. You may mention how there are plenty of kids in the neighborhood, but that is exactly what they don't want. You may want to brag about how great your church congregation is, but they are atheist. You get the idea. The more you talk, the more likely it is that you could say the wrong thing. Leave the house and let the professional Realtor demonstrate it to the buyers.
5. Your neighbor was willing to negotiate.
In today's challenging market, buyers want to feel they negotiated the best deal they could. They always offer lower than the asking price, they almost always ask for closing costs, and they frequently ask for extras, like your fridge or washer and dryer.
The owners who sell fast are the ones who are flexible and never turn away an offer - it may be the only one that comes their way. When you’re ready to sell your home you realize it’s not yours anymore. The best thing to remember is when you buy a house you’re fixing it up to sell ….unless you’re planning to never move.
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