Why isn’t my house selling? 5 reasons why!
Sian Hiatt, Sales Manager, points out 5 common things that can hinder the sale of a property...
If you’re struggling to sell your home, there could be one or several reasons as to why that is the case.
Any estate agent worth their salt should be able to provide you with plenty of guidance and advice before the property even goes to market to ensure you give yourself the best chance of attracting potential buyers as soon as possible.
With that said, there is only so much an estate agent can do - a lot of the work that needs to be done to follow the advice of the agent will probably have to be carried out by the home sellers.
If you have time to test and are unsure as to whether you really want to undergo costly property improvements, then you may want to dip your toe in the water by seeing how the property fares on the market as it is for a few weeks before reassessing.
If it quickly sells, then you may not achieve the maximum potential value, but hey - you’ll no doubt still be happy for the sale.
If it doesn’t sell or gain much attention, then you may decide to temporarily take it off the market while you make any suggested improvements.
Most home sellers do take the advice of their estate agent on board, as after all, they are the property market experts. They know what sells!
But you’re here to find out why your property may not be selling - so, here are 5 common reasons for why a home doesn’t sell.
5 common reasons why a house doesn’t sell
1. Trying to sell it at the wrong price
If you want to successfully sell your property, then it’s important that it’s accurately valued and listed at a realistic price. Many sellers have a sale price in mind, but the truth is this price is often unlikely to be achieved.
Many sellers also automatically assume that just because they have carried out certain works to the property, this will automatically add a certain amount to the value. If you’re looking to make home improvements that will increase the sale price of your house, be sure to speak to an estate agent beforehand to ensure the investment makes sense.
One last thing to consider is price brackets on property portals like Rightmove. These portals make it possible to browse properties that meet certain search fields, so being priced unusually or not within price brackets means you could miss out on showing up prominently for many potential suitors.
2. Low quality property listing photography and videography
Most home buyers will first gain an interest in a property when they view photographs of the listing online. Your property will be competing with many other similar properties, so if it’s unattractively photographed, you’re already creating a reason for potential buyers to dismiss your home.
To showcase the property in its best light you need quality photographs that will attract viewers and ultimately, land yourself an offer (or a few!).
Furthermore, in this day and age buyers are increasingly demanding videography, which is why we are putting a great deal of time and effort into the video tours we produce as part of our marketing packages. This can even include drone footage to really stand out from the crowd.
Read: Our unique, professionally made property videos
3. Displayed poorly for viewings
Put yourself in the mindset of a buyer and walk through your property. Think about why the property may or may not appeal to you. Remove pets and their odours, make sure each room is clean and tidy, and make sure highlights and features throughout the property are easily noticed.
Fresh flowers, house plants, layered lighting with lamps, air fresheners, open curtains/blinds, plumped cushions, beds that are properly made, and other little homely touches can go a long way to helping viewers feel more comfortable and at home while viewing the property. Just make sure it’s not clutter.
If you’re struggling to pinpoint problem areas that could do with improving, ask a trusted, straight-talking friend or relative to walk through the house to give their honest opinion.
4. Lack of key features mentioned
Any key features that come with the property should be clearly noticed within the listing. Make sure your estate agent is prominently mentioning and highlighting features such as a garden, garage, driveway, allocated parking spaces, freehold, detached and such. These are all popular search terms that buyers will use to narrow down their search for properties that interest them and tick all the boxes.
Not mentioning them means you could easily lose potential buyers.
Read: 5 tips to increase the value of your property
5. The time just isn’t right
It’s a well-known fact that over the years and decades, the property market ebbs and flows unpredictably. You may have heard the terms “buyers’ market” and “sellers’ market”, which refers to whether the property market conditions are best primed for property buyers or sellers.
It’s all about supply and demand, so if you happen to be selling during a time of wider financial tightening or when the number of properties available for sale appears to be ever-increasing, you may find it a struggle to sell at the price you are hoping for.
Do you have a property in Cardiff that you’re ready to sell? If so, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert sales team here at CPS Homes. You can get in touch by calling 02920 668585, e-mailing enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk or by popping into one of our three Cardiff branches for a chat and to arrange a free property valuation.
