Did you list your house this spring or summer, and now you’re wondering why your house didn’t sell? If your listing expired, and you didn’t sell your house, you’re most likely feeling frustrated. Not to mention, you’re also probably wondering what went wrong.
We recently wrote a blog that explained how homebuyers were getting used to the new normal in the housing market and how sellers needed to adapt in order to sell their houses. If you followed our advice and your house still didn’t sell, here are three questions to think about as you figure out what to do next.
Did You Limit Access to Your House?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when potential buyers can tour it. Although it might feel a bit stressful to drop everything and leave, when buyers want to see your house, being flexible with your schedule is important when trying to sell your house. After all, limiting access translates into minimal exposure to buyers. ShowingTime advises:
“. . . do your best to be as flexible as possible when granting access to your house for showings.”
In these times of more people working remotely, the most determined buyers might come from far away. Since they have to travel to see your house, they might not be able to change their plans easily if you only offer limited times for showings. So, try to make your house available as much as you can to accommodate them. After all, if no one’s able to look at it, how’s it going to sell?
Did You Make Your House Stand Out?
When selling your house, the old saying matters: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Putting in the work to make the exterior of your home look nice is just as important as how you stage it inside. Freshen up your landscaping to improve your home’s curb appeal so you can make an impact that will invite potential buyers to want to see what’s inside. Some touch-up painting (front door, trim, shutters, etc.) can also drastically improve the curb appeal of your house. As an article from U.S. News says:
“After all, if people drive by, but aren’t interested enough to walk through the front door, you’ll never sell your house.”
But don’t let the impact stop at the front door. By removing personal items and reducing clutter inside, you give buyers more freedom to picture themselves in the home. Additionally, a new coat of paint or cleaning the floors can go a long way to freshening up a room.
Did You Price Your House Competitively?
Setting the right price is extremely important when you’re selling your house. Even though it might feel tempting to push the price higher to maximize your profit, overpricing can scare away buyers and make it hard to sell quickly. Business Insider notes:
“. . . the biggest mistake sellers make is overpricing their home.”
If your house is priced higher than others like it, it could serve as an impediment to buyer interest. Pay attention to the feedback people give your agent during open houses and showings. If lots of people are saying the same thing, it might be a good idea to think about lowering the price.
For all these insights and more, rely on a trusted real estate agent. A great agent will offer expert advice on relisting your house with effective strategies to get it sold.
Bottom Line
It’s natural to feel disappointed when your listing has expired and your house didn’t sell. But that doesn’t mean that it’s too late. When you work with a reputable agent like Bay Shores Real Estate we’ll work with you to properly prepare, price, and market your house so that it’ll sell. Let’s connect to analyze what happened and identify to reconsider or change to get your house back on the market and successfully sell it. Then you’ll be able to move on to what’s next for you and your family.
