The reason why houses don’t sell can be easy to solve
If you’re looking for the reasons houses don’t sell because your house isn’t selling, here are the top 7 reasons why it may not be selling.
Top 7 reasons why houses don’t sell:
- An unrealistic asking price puts buyers off.
- Your house doesn’t give a good first impression.
- A tired and out-dated kitchen won’t attract buyers.
- An outdated bathroom stops people buying.
- Unusual or dark colours put buyers off.
- Your estate agent isn’t working hard enough.
- It’s the wrong time to sell.
Let’s now look at each of these reasons houses don’t sell in more detail.
1. An unrealistic asking price will put buyers off
Probably the number one reason why houses don’t sell is because the asking price is unrealistic. If you over value your home and put on with an estate agent at the wrong price, it will not sell.
Houses that are priced incorrectly may not even get viewings. You need to get viewings to sell your home, which may seem obvious. But you’d be surprised at how many home owners make this mistake. But estate agents also make this mistake for you.
Some estate agents even manipulate you to get the contract to sell your home by over-pricing your house. Some agents over-value to make you feel good about your home. But this is a mistake, as your home just won’t sell at the wrong price. What will end up happening is the price will need to be dropped.
However, this may affect the sale-ability of your house, as this will put some buyers off. They will wonder what’s wrong with it, if the price needs to be dropped.
Many home owners need to achieve a certain selling price to pay off the mortgage and to have enough left over for a deposit for their new home.
House sell for what they are worth to buyers, not what you owe on your mortgage!
The market doesn’t work that way. People don’t buy houses based upon what the vendor (or seller) wants. People buy houses based upon their perceived value of that home. Most, if not all houses, will sell at the right price, but not many homes will sell at the wrong price.
Be realistic with your valuation. Ask at least two , if not three estate agents around to value your home. Take a look at Zoopla house prices to see what houses are going for on your street.
Don’t necessarily take the highest valuation.
More Reading: What sells a house fast in the UK? (How fast is fast?)
2. Your house doesn’t give a good first impression
You can never make a second first impression.
You need to show your house off in the best possible light. People make quick decisions about whether they want to buy or not. Many things can put them off, which can be even before they cross your threshold.
Do your walls need a fresh coat of paint? Does the front door need attention? Is your garden looking nicely kept and tidy? Have you removed all the personal effects around the home and de-clutted every room. Are your carpets worn and threadbare? You may need to re-carpet all or part of your house to help it sell.
Stand in front of your home and look at it through a buyers eyes. Go around your house with a different set of eyes and be critical.
If you have a dog, have you made sure your house doesn’t smell of dog? This can put potential home-buyers off. This applies for any other pets you may have that smell. Consider taking your pets away until your house is sold.
More Reading: How to sell your house quickly for a good price (Plus 7 mistakes to avoid)
3. A tired and out-dated kitchen will not attract buyers
Most home owners know that kitchens sell houses. Take a close look at your kitchen and if its looking tired and out of date, consider replacing it.
If you can’t afford to replace your whole kitchen, consider either painting the doors or simply replacing them with a more modern look. This can be done relatively cheaply and the results can be amazing.
If you don’t have an up to date modern looking kitchen, buyers will either be put off completely, or they will be looking to reduce the asking price to take account of replacing the kitchen.
Always make sure that things are put away in the kitchen and the sink is clean and tidy. Having a sink full of dirty pots and pans can put buyers off.
More Reading: Does upgrading your kitchen add value to your home? (What to spend)
4. An outdated bathroom will stop people buying
The second room in a home that sells a house is the bathroom or bathrooms. If you have an out dated coloured sink, toilet and bath this will put buyers off.
If your bathroom is out dated and the wrong colour, this will either put buyers off completely, or they will be looking to reduce the asking price to take account of replacing the bathroom.
More Reading: How much does a bathroom add to home value UK (What to spend)
5. Unusual or dark colour schemes put buyers off
If your home is full of unusual and outlandish colour schemes you must tone this down.
A neutral colour is important, so that buyers can look at your house and either feel they can add their own splash of colour, or like it for its neutral tones.
Find out what the latest colour schemes that are used in new or modern homes. Buy the latest house or homes magazines to get some ideas.
Always remember neutral colours help to sell houses.
More Reading: How do you sell a house that requires major repairs UK?
6. Your estate agent isn’t working hard enough to get buyers through your door
If you choose the wrong estate agent this could stop you from selling your home. Use a referral from someone who’s used an agent before. But make sure the agent you’re using is the right one for the type of house you’re selling.
Make sure the agent is proactive and test them by asking a friend to call them on your behalf. Make sure they are listing your home on Rightmove too.
More Reading: How to choose an estate agent (Don’t choose before reading this)
7. It’s the wrong time to sell your house
It’s arguable that there’s a right time and a wrong time to sell your house. Having said that, if you price your property right there will usually be buyers in the market.
Be careful in the wrong market or at the wrong time of year, as this could mean your property stagnates and stays on the market for too long. Buyers can be put off by a house that’s been up for sale for months. Buyers will worry what’s wrong with your house and give it a wide birth.
Traditionally a good time to sell a house is at Easter or just after the Easter holidays. Whereas a bad time to sell is leading up to Christmas.
More Reading: When is the best month to sell your house in the UK (Key selling months in the UK)
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