Why do some homes sell right away? Why do some sit on the market for months at a time? And why isn’t your house selling? In our latest post, we will help you to consider some reasons why your house isn’t selling, and what you can do about it!
A successful house sale is always going to require a lot of time and effort from the seller. Behind every successful house sale is a meticulous plan worked for several months or years before even listing the property for sale. If you don’t properly plan for a home sale, odds are you will have a difficult time selling your house. In today’s post we will take a look at a few of the most common reasons Chicago area home sellers struggle to sell their house.
Why Isn’t My House Selling in Chicago
Don’t Be Overly Ambitious With Your Asking Price
Probably the most common reason sellers in Chicago struggle to sell their house is because they have unrealistic pricing expectations. Starting at the right price is imperative to having a smooth home sale. Even if you adjust the price later on down the road you will find it much more difficult to convince prospective to make an offer after the property has been sitting on the market for an extended period of time. Also if you have to continually reduce the price of the property over time many potential buyers will start to think that there is something wrong with the property.
Your Clutter is Off-Putting
No matter how cute you think your stuff is, it’s still YOUR stuff. How can someone imagine your extra bedroom as an office if there are teddy bears everywhere?
- Put away any personal items.
- Clear away paperwork from tables and desks.
- Take pictures down.
- Put away things like your robe, your razor, and your toothbrush.
And while you’re at it, give it a thorough cleaning. To be blunt, your typical cleaning habits may not be on par with some of the people viewing your home. Now is the time to channel your inner neat freak.
You Aren’t Able to Compete
Thinking about listing in Chicago? Do you know what you’re up against? Take a good look at properties for sale in your area. Know what your neighbors are asking for their homes, and what comparable houses have recently sold for. Check out listing sites as well as your county appraiser. Don’t look at what people are asking, look at what houses are actually going for. You should also know the demographics of potential buyers. Are there a lot of families? Make your yard conducive to outdoor fun. Young professionals? Think of showcasing an area as an office or gym.
It Needs Work
Honesty is key here. There are things you might have been overlooking for so long, that now they just seem normal. Get an outside opinion on what repairs should be made. Ask friends for candid opinions. Ask your agent. And consider doing an inspection on your own. Fixing the things in need of repair will improve your selling chances, and lower your potential buyer’s bargaining power over repairs.
Bad Photos
People use the internet to buy homes. In our opinion, nothing can destroy a listing faster than bad photography. On the flip side, well done, professional photos can make your listing skyrocket. Don’t settle for an agent who takes a picture of your home from the car. And going back to the above, there should not be ANY clutter in your photos. Seriously. Nothing. Even if you put everything back after the picture is taken… putting some effort into great photos will make or break your listing.
Your Agent isn’t Doing All They Could Be
Some agents will do the bare minimum and cross their fingers for a sale. They might have gotten their license in hopes of making a quick buck. Then there is Blue Ladder Development. We are real estate professionals that genuinely want to help people! We believe everyone should love the real estate they own.
Title Issues
It is very difficult to sell a property with liens or other title problems. Maybe your great aunt gave you the property, but it was never properly put in your name. (AKA, transfer without conveyance.) To sell a property in Chicago do whatever you can to clear this up before you list.