It’s the one question you just wish someone would answer, “why isn’t my home selling?!” You keep being told that it’s currently a seller’s market and hear stories every day of houses selling in a matter of hours, so why then is yours STILL on the market. You ask your estate agent and they once again suggest dropping the price. Sound familiar?
I see far too many properties for sale that just simply aren’t selling. In the Bishop’s Stortford area alone you can find well over 150 properties that haven’t sold for between two months and two years! The good news is that price is not always, or even very often the issue. Here are the top 3 reasons properties don’t sell, and better still…none include the price!
Presenting your home for the right buyer
Have you considered, “what type of buyer are we trying to attract?” A two bedroom flat may well be an appealing option for a first time buyer, whereas a four bedroom detached house may well make a wonderful family home. Does your home appeal to that ideal buyer? So many of the properties you see sitting on Rightmove for months are simply not attractive to their target market. Most people do not have a vivid imagination when they view a property, they need to walk through the door and be wowed.
Photography
If you fancy a laugh then you really must check out Sam Ashdown’s wall of shame www.home-truths.co.uk/blog/wall-of-shame where she showcases the worst of estate agent photography including;
the accidental selfie…
the vendorbomb…
and pictures that are just plain criminal…
The difference professional property photography can make is immense. I’ve been invited to photograph properties that have been stuck on the market for months, or even years and they’ve sold as a result of great photos. I once photographed a property that had been on the market for 2 years, with 6 different estate agents and no one could sell it. Every agent simply told them to reduce their price. I took professional photos of the property and it sold within 6 weeks for the full asking price. They do say a picture is worth a thousand words and it’s so true.
Pets
It’s a sad fact that other people just might not like pets, especially those that are allergic to them. When you have a viewing, hide away bowls, litter trays and toys and if you have a dog then get someone to take it out for a walk while your viewing takes place. Dogs jumping up at viewers tends NOT to get you the offer you were hoping for. Remove other traces of pets such as hairs and doggy smells!
Do you have a property on the market that isn’t selling? Feel free to email me at angela@angelawestgarth.co.uk and I’ll give you a free review of your Rightmove listing. If you want to book a professional property shoot of your home, I can help with that too.
What to read next? ‘5 Reasons You Need Professional Photographs When Selling Your Home‘
