When you sell your house, ideally, you want it to go something like this: your home sells for top dollar, you get it sold quickly, and everything goes down without a hitch.
But many people don’t realize that even in today’s market, where there are more buyers than homes for sale, things can still cause delays or even keep a house from selling. According to Zillow, in 2024, as many as 1 in 3 sellers took their home off the market before it sold.
And while the reasons those houses didn’t sell will vary, some general themes come through. If you’re having trouble selling your home, here are the top three hurdles that could get in the way and how an expert agent can help you solve these issues.
1. Priced Too High
It’s no surprise that price plays a significant role when you sell. In today’s market, overpricing a home in a high-mortgage rate environment is the biggest thing that keeps homes on the market longer than the norm. As. U.S. News Real Estate says:
“Talk to any real estate expert, and the first thing they’ll tell you is that a house is selling slowly because the price is too high.”
While it’s tempting to push the price higher to get more for your home, overpricing can turn away potential buyers. It can also make your house sit on the market for too long. And the longer it sits, the more skeptical buyers will be that there’s something wrong, even if there isn’t.
Buyers today have so many tools and resources to view homes in your area and compare prices. So, if your house is priced too high, you’ll risk driving away potential offers.
To determine if this is happening with your listing, talk to your agent about what they hear at open houses and showings. If the feedback is consistent, it may be time to re-evaluate your asking price.
2. Not Freshened Up Before Listing
You only get one chance to make a great first impression on a buyer. That’s why sprucing up your house can be the difference between selling or sitting.
First, take into account your home’s curb appeal. There may be easy ways you can clean up the landscaping to make it tidy, inviting, and make an impact. As an article from Realtor.com notes:
” . . . for better or worse, buyers do tend to judge a book by its cover. You want to make sure potential buyers’ first impression of your home is a good one—and inspires them to stop by the open house or schedule a tour—so they can see more.”
But don’t stop at the front door. Small touches like removing personal items, reducing clutter, and cleaning the floors give buyers more freedom to picture themselves in the home. And inexpensive upgrades like a fresh coat of paint or updated listing photos to match the current season can go a long way with that wow factor.
When in doubt, lean on your real estate agent for expert advice on whether you need a new game plan to close the deal.
3. Limited Access
Another big mistake you can make as a seller is limiting the days and times buyers can view your house. Because at the end of the day, if buyers can’t take a look around, your chances of selling decline — drastically.
And here’s something else to consider. No matter what type of market you’re dealing with, buyers from outside the area are often highly motivated, but they don’t have as much flexibility or time as those who are local. So, give your house the best visibility by making it available as much as possible.
Bottom Line
You deserve to check selling your house off your list of goals this year. So, if your home isn’t getting enough attention or your listing is getting stale, don’t be afraid to ask your trusted real estate agent how you can revamp your approach.
