September, 2018
As a seller, you may be faced with some obstacles and drawbacks when you come to put your home on the market.
If you find that your home isn’t selling – or attracting enough prospective buyers – it’s worth taking a step back to re-evaluate your marketing campaign and selling approach to see if any improvements can be made.
Here at Oscar James, we outline some of the reasons your property may not be selling and how you can rectify this.
You overvalued your property
Every house can sell, it just needs the right price. While you may believe that your property is worth more, you may want to consider marketing it at a more competitive price; this could help to attract a greater pool of buyers.
Remember, setting the asking price too high means you could put off potential buyers, while setting it too low could mean you are selling your property short. It’s tricky to get the right balance, but your estate agent will be on hand to help you set a realistic, fair asking price.
Your home lacks kerb appeal
It goes without saying, but your property will need to look attractive enough on listings and in person if you want to attract any buyers. In particular, the front of your home can make a huge difference. It’s the first thing would-be buyers will see and you’ll want them to gain an excellent first impression.
To ensure this is the case, you will need to consider certain things: is the lawn green and weed-free? Are the hedges neat? Does the paint job on the exterior of your home need touching up? Are there cracks in the driveway?
It’s worth assessing the general appeal of your home, being objective about the state that it’s in. If in doubt, ask friends, relatives or your estate agent for their honest opinion. It’s also important to double check the guttering and drains for any leakage and clogging to avoid them being flagged up as an issue later on down the line.
You haven’t instructed the right agent
Not all agents are the same, and it can be a bit tricky to sell a home if your agent isn’t the right one for you. You will want to ensure that you are instructing one that can market your property effectively and help you to sell with ease.
Choosing the right estate agent is one of the most important decisions you will make when selling your home. If you aren’t getting the results you want, it’s advisable to ask your agent what actions they will take to improve your marketing campaign. A reputable agent will provide solid alternatives and do their best to reassure you. However, if you find that they are no longer suitable, you will have to give notice before terminating your contract and looking elsewhere.
Your property listing is sub-par
If the listing of your home includes a poorly written description and low quality (or little to no) images, a lot of buyers are likely to skip over it. You want to make sure you and your agent put effort into creating a listing that attracts the attention of buyer. This includes adding high quality photographs of both the interior and exterior of your home and using an eloquent description that shows your home in its best light. Don’t forget to highlight unique features as well.
Your home is too personalised
You might like your flamingo-print wallpaper, but potential buyers more than likely won’t. Having unique home décor and interior design could easily put people off. It’s worth considering a more neutral backdrop so that buyers can easily visualise themselves living there without being distracted by bold pops of colour or over-the-top features that they may not care for.
If your tastes are more eclectic than most people’s then you are at risk of limiting your potential pool of buyers. Take a look at your home and honestly ask yourself if it looks like most of your neighbours’. If it’s too eccentric or alternative, it may be in your best interest to pare this back to ensure you can target a broader range of purchasers.
All things considered, it’s important to keep calm during this process and accept that things can take time. Luckily, the traditional post-summer boom in activity and people’s eagerness to move in before Christmas makes autumn a good time to sell..
If you would like any guidance on selling a property in Northampton, Kettering and Burton Latimer, please contact us.
To see how much your home could be worth on the current market, you can also book a valuation here.
