It can be very frustrating when your home has been up for sale for a while and is not selling. Not knowing when you are going to move, if at all, can leave you feeling in limbo. Sure, everybody says that they love your home but why is it not selling?
After years selling homes in Harrogate and Yorkshire, we have come across the same mistakes time and time again. Usually it’s a combination of these mistakes that can put a buyer off and make your home more difficult to sell. The good news is that all these issues are easy to rectify. So, if your home is not selling, take a look at our top five selling mistakes and honesty ask yourself how many of these apply to you.
1. Over-pricing
This is one of the top mistakes we see. Over-keen estate agents can try and win an instruction through flattery and over-egging the asking price. It is all too tempting to go with the agent that suggests they can achieve the highest price. Your home should be marketed at the right price, right from the very beginning of your sale. No ‘testing the market’, no ‘let’s see what happens’. These strategies can have a negative impact on your sale forcing you to reduce your price, multiple times. When a buyer sees a home reduced time and time again they become wary, wondering what is wrong with the house. A property that is overpriced can put buyers off from the very start and lead to further rejection when it is reduced over and over.
Your home should reflect a true market valuation. This will attract buyers. If you price at what your home should realistically achieve you have a better chance of attracting multiple buyers. In turn this can actually increase the value of your offers. Keen buyers, knowing that other buyers are interested in your home will put their best offer forward. This is by far the best pricing strategy.
The best way to assess if your home is overvalued is to take a look at sold prices in your area. The Sold Prices section of Rightmove is a great tool for this. You can then gauge where your price is sitting and if it is too high. Speak to your agent and ask them for a up to date, honest, market value of what your house should currently sell for. If your research suggests that your home is overvalued then talk to your agent about reducing the asking price. If your research shows that your home is not over-priced then there could be other factors at play so read on and find out more.
2. Not softening bold decoration
How you present your home can have a huge impact on your sale. For the best chance of a sale your buyer needs to imagine themselves living in your home. Strong decoration and lots of bold personal décor and accessories can put buyers off. Bold patterned wallpaper and strong colour schemes can completely take over property images. So when your buyer browses through your property photographs online, they will be distracted by the décor. It is more difficult for them to actually see your home for what it is and how it could be for them.
Whilst you will love your décor, not everyone will. To help your buyers fall in love with your home, make it easy for them and soften it.
3. Cleanliness
Dirt and mess puts buyers off. Buyers will be able to pick up on dirt and mess through your property photography. Selling a home is all about helping your buyer visualise themselves in your home. If your home is dirty, it is hard for them to see past this.
Decluttering is a great place to start when tacking this mistake. Let your buyers see how much space there is and get rid of the junk. Then deep clean your home from top to bottom. Clean your windows to help light penetrate your home. Get your carpets and soft furnishings professionally cleaned to get rid of grime and smells. Always ensure that bedding and towels are freshly laundered.
We all lead busy lives so if it is easier look into employing the service of a professional cleaner. They can help with the initial deep clean and then keep on top of the cleaning throughout the week. It is an added expense but a great investment for your house sale.
4. Not attending to maintenance
This fourth mistake again relates to how you present you home. Lots of unfinished or poor DIY jobs will be picked up by buyers. As will the overall condition of your home and whether you have maintained it well. Any issues visible to a buyer will leave them wondering what else is lurking below the surface and if there are any hidden problems. A well-loved, well cared for home is far more saleable than one that is not. Always make sure you maintain your home to the highest standards.
Thoroughly inspect your home and look at any maintenance issues both inside your home and outside. Deal with any issues you find. If you have had a few DIY disasters ask a professional to correct the mistakes.
5. Cheap agent with cheap marketing
Moving home isn’t cheap, it is easy to try and keep the costs down by going with a lower cost estate agent. Cheap agents are cheap for a reason. Usually this is because their marketing is also cheap and below standard. Many cheaper agents promote and market your home in a ‘cheap’ way. Poor marketing will fail to attract a buyer, whereas high quality marketing will help attract lots of attention to your home. Your property images, written description, online Rightmove listing and printed brochure should be of the highest standards to grab the attention of potential buyers.
Here at Alexander Gibson we know that high quality marketing helps sell homes. That is why we spend a lot of time and invest more money in this area that the average estate agent. You and your home deserve the very best and that is why we bring you the very best marketing. Marketing that intrigues, compels and leaves a browser wanting to know more about your home.
So, how many of these mistakes apply to your home? To give yourself the best chance, tackle each one of these and ask your agent to refresh your property marketing so your buyers can see the improvements you have made.
If you would like an honest opinion on why your home is not selling, we would be happy to help. We can help you assess each of these mistakes and help you find a way to remedy the issues. Call 01423 563077, email talk@alexandergibson.co.uk or find out more here www.alexandergibson.co.uk/struggling-sell
For more advice on successful selling please see our guide here www.alexandergibson.co.uk/successful-selling