Whether the market is booming or flat, there are homes that sell fast and others that stick around. And when it’s yours that’s left on the shelf, it’s a frustrating and uncertain time.
Although there’s always a reason, it may not be clear right now. But if the promised queue of buyers has failed to materialise, it's time to start asking questions like:
What factors can stop your home selling?
Could your price be making you invisible?
Does your marketing truly sell your home?
Is your presentation spoiling your chances?
Has your agent run out of steam?
You'll be glad to know there's no such thing as an unsellable home, and everyone's fortunes can be turned around. So, let's get on with finding the magic that puts your move back on track.
WHAT FACTORS CAN STOP YOUR HOME SELLING?
When a home gets stuck on the market, it's always down to price, profile or presentation. In some cases, it's all three, but even getting one wrong can set you back months, and here's why each one matters:
When your price is too low, too high, or just misguided, your home can miss your target audience and be invisible to the people who would buy it.
Lacklustre marketing, from your photos to the bullet points to the main description, can make your home lose out to more skillfully advertised competition.
Presentation details like scruffy kerb appeal, too much furniture, or rooms without a role can all ruin viewings or turn buyers off before they ever book.
When these factors perfectly align, a sale is rarely far away, which makes it essential to compete on every level. It’s all about showing buyers that your home is one to explore, rather than ignore.
COULD YOUR PRICE BE MAKING YOU INVISIBLE?
Getting the asking price of your property right is about catching the wealthiest likely buyers in a wave of excitement, and your biggest chance of success is when your home is still fresh on the market.
You're likely to sell for the highest price during the first 4-6 weeks with an agent, after which they'll have exhausted their list of registered buyers. So beware of the following traps.
Buyers don’t usually search more than 10% over their budget, so if your price is higher than that above the right level, you’ll only reach people who want - and can get - more for their money.
An asking price of £399,950 or £399,995 for a £400,000 home will only reach buyers looking up to £400,000, and miss those with more money searching between £400,000 and £425,000.
Prices like £417,500 or £405,000 run a high risk of getting lost in the search results, rather than nearer the top or bottom of price bands like £400,000 - £425,000.
In short, the art of accurate and effective pricing needs to use the portals to your advantage. 1980s tricks like 950 or 995 pricing simply don't reflect how buyers search today, and they could cost you your move.
DOES YOUR MARKETING TRULY SELL YOUR HOME?
At least 90% of homehunters start their search on the web, so your online profile is a crucial part of your selling toolkit. It can attract your perfect buyer, or turn them right off.
Whatever property portals your agent is on, there are three critical areas to get right if you want to find a buyer and get the best price:
The first 25 or so words of your description are crucial. Do they focus on the top selling points, or are they wasted on bluster like “as the owner's sole appointed agent…”?
Your photos should be of professional quality, visibly in season, and highlight rooms and features with a mix of wide-angle and close-up shots, and be rotated regularly to keep your listing fresh.
Your agent should be active on social media, whether promoting individual or collections of homes, or providing a regular and valuable presence to reach and attract buyers.
Even the most prominent estate agency window can’t compete with the impact and reach of your online profile, so if any of it falls short, it's time to take urgent action to avoid losing any more time.
IS YOUR PRESENTATION SPOILING YOUR CHANCES?
When buyers come to see your home, they could easily make their decision in seconds, and sometimes without completely knowing why. The subconscious mind is a powerful thing.
Alongside how your home looks, think about how it feels. Viewers respond well to a cosy, cheerful and calm experience, so look around now to see whether you could:
Give every room a clear purpose that fills the needs of your likely buyer; remove or rearrange furniture that hides any features, obstructs sightlines, or makes it difficult to walk around.
Fill bathrooms with plush towels and fluffy robes; treat yourself to that new bedding now (even in spare rooms); and dress bare couches and armchairs with scatter cushions or throws.
Clear shelves, worktops and surfaces of clutter; clean or refresh tired paintwork; polish your windows until they sparkle; and clear fallen leaves and dead plants from your garden or balcony.
Perfect presentation doesn’t have to be hard work, and you can find tips galore for a simple weekly workout to keep your home fit for sale - https://www.pauk.property/blog/is-your-home-fit-for-sale-keep-it-in-shape-with-our-simple-weekly-workout in our previous blog.
HAS YOUR AGENT RUN OUT OF STEAM?
You never know how it will go with your estate agent until you try, and sometimes things don’t work out. If you’re wondering whether they’re still the right choice, try asking them the following questions:
What’s your agent’s plan going forward? If whatever they’ve tried isn’t working, you need a change of tack, which means new ideas and a fresh strategy.
Do they have a history of selling homes like yours? Portals are one thing, but understanding your home is another, and they may simply not have the profile, buyers or experience you need.
Have they given you all the feedback from your viewings, or has anything been toned down to avoid offending you? You need the whole story to be able to take effective action.
We’ve dedicated an entire blog to feedback from viewings - https://www.pauk.property/blog/viewings-feedback-using-negative-buyer-comments-to-boost-your-homes-saleability, so why not take a look to see how you can turn negative comments from buyers into positive selling points?
Wondering why you can't sell your home?
Then let's have a chat. We'd love to show you how we help people selling homes in Wokingham to get their move back on track.
Call us on 0118 912 2370 or message us at office@pauk.property to tell us about your plans. Changing estate agents - https://www.pauk.property/blog/112-the-top-3-reasons-why-switching-estate-agents-might-just-be-the-key-to-getting-you-moving-sooner could be just what you need to find your perfect buyer.
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