7 reasons your house may not be selling
Here are some of the common mistakes people make when putting their home up for sale.
Good timing – April to June is ideal – and a realistic asking price are among the factors that will ensure your house sells in a timely fashion.
By: Mark Weisleder
Selling a home isn’t as simple as planting a sign in the ground any more. It involves preparation, timing and strategic advice. If you don’t do all of the above, do not be surprised when your home does not sell while others in the area are doing so.
Here are some common mistakes:
1. Good photos matter
More and more, buyers are being introduced to properties online. Pictures and videos matter. Before you take any picture, make sure your home has been properly de-cluttered, inside and out, and consider staging tips that will make the rooms appear larger. Pictures from your own iPhone will not impress anyone. Make sure all photographs are taken by professionals.
2. An MLS listing isn’t enough
In addition to the MLS, your home needs to be marketed on social media and should be directly advertised to other real estate agents, here and abroad, who are more likely to bring a buyer to your home. Foreign investors want Canadian real estate, as they view it as a safe investment. You need to reach every potential buyer.
3. The price isn’t right
A home is likely to attract the most interest within the first two weeks it is listed for sale. If the home is overpriced, buyers will move on. Be realistic when you set a sale price. Check out the competition and see what recent sales have been in the area. Remember, the longer a house sits on the market, the more likely that people will start asking whether something is wrong with it.
4. Buyers can’t get in to have a look
You never know when a potential buyer will want to see it. It might be late in the evening or at other times that are not convenient for you. If you say no, the buyer will typically just move on to the next home for sale, where the owner is more accommodating.
5. Your timing is wrong
Most buyers like to close before the beginning of the school year, to avoid too much disruption. Since closing usually happens 60 days after the offer is signed, you want to try to time your sale to happen between April and June. People generally go on vacation in the summer.
6. The house has a stigma
Sometimes two homes look similar, but one backs on to a ravine and the other to a hydro line. Make sure your agent asks for feedback from people who have seen your home but have decided not to put in an offer. If there is something outside the home that is bothering buyers, either figure out how to address it or adjust your price. If your neighbours know about prior problems with your home, be upfront and tell buyers in advance. They are going to ask the neighbours anyway, as part of their due diligence.
7. You have the wrong agent
When you interview agents, it should never be about choosing the one with the cheapest price. You have too much money riding on this choice. Ask any agent you interview about their own marketing plans and social media presence, and above all, get references. In addition, ask a simple question: Why should I hire you? If they can’t demonstrate why they are different, move on.
Top 10 Tips for Writing a Property Description That Sells
This week, Scott Bollinger, Licensed Broker at Commonsense Network brokerage, part of the ComFree family in Alberta, is providing some important tips for selling your home. You can hear his Real Estate Minutes on the radio on 96.3 Capital FM!
Nowadays, it’s a given that you will place your property for sale online; however, writing a property description that sells is your first step towards selling your home in a timely manner. I can attest to the fact that, too often, the property descriptions I read could use some improvement.
Writing a property description that sells isn’t difficult, so long as you are armed with the following tips:
Tips for writing a property description that sells #10
Don’t write in caps
While you may think that writing in caps will capture a homebuyer’s attention, what you may not be aware of is that writing in caps tells the reader that you are essentially shouting your entire property description at them.
Sure, you can write a catchy headline in caps for effect (instead of writing “Home with large backyard,” write, “A Gardener’s Paradise), but do not write the entire property description that way or people will skip over your listing.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #9
Avoid typos
From “walking closet” and “wreck room” to “stainless steal appliances” and “hardware floors,” many property descriptions come chock-full of typos. Some homebuyers have a difficult time taking a listing seriously when they are busy laughing at all the spelling and grammatical errors in the listing.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #8
Use tantalizing adjectives
Using words like “beautiful,” “turn-key” and “gorgeous” in your property description will capture the attention of potential homebuyers, so use them to your advantage when describing your home for sale.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #7
Use bullet points
When people surf the web, they don’t read; they scan. Make it as easy as possible for homebuyers by listing off the great things about your property rather than write up a novella.
Using bullet points is always a great idea as are sub-headers, they tell the reader what the upcoming paragraph will address.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #6
Be descriptive
I could go on and on with descriptive words such as, comfortable, stylish, luxurious, magnificent, elegant, and practical, but it is ultimately up to you to create a property description that sells your home to a potential homebuyer.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #5
Keep it short
Sure, there is so much about your home that needs to be revealed, but a property description should not exceed 250 words. Remember that a property description should drive the homebuyer to pick up the phone and inquire about more information.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #4
Don’t discriminate
Your objective is to sell your home, so it is in your best interest to avoid words like: “perfect for family,” “no children,” “Christian,” and “close to synagogue,” as you might lose many potential buyers by trying to hone in on one type. Keep your sale neutral and provide these details only once the buyer makes a comment about having a big family or being religious.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #3
Use known name brands
If your appliances come with the home, name dropping is a good thing. Same goes for the architect you used or the interior designer, or even the name brand of windows and window treatments. If you’re asking price is slightly higher than everyone else, reveal why that is.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #2
Use great pictures
Not only should your home be ready for its closeup, the pictures you take should be high-quality. How many pictures should your listing have? Between 10 and 20 is fine.
Make sure the beds are made, the clutter is gone and it all looks move-in ready.
Tips for writing a property description that sells #1
Have a call to action
All this without a “call us today” or “visit this home by calling” is not the ideal situation, so make sure your property description ends off with a distinct call to action. Ensure that all your contact information is correct and speak to the homebuyers in a conversational tone.
Property descriptions that sell begin with words
Sometimes, other circumstances get in the way of selling your home quickly and efficiently, but making sure that your property descriptions is not once of those things is a step in the right direction.
Are you ready to sell your home and get the most exposure? Visit ComFree.com today to find out how we can help.
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