When it comes to selling your home, wouldn’t you like to get the most money that you can for your home? Wouldn’t you also want to sell it within a certain timeframe and with very little difficulty? Today’s housing market is favorable to sellers with a limited housing supply, but there are still factors that can cause delays or even prevent a home from selling.
If you’re having trouble selling your home in today’s
sellers’ market, here are a few things to consider.
Does Your Home Have Limited Access?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a seller is limiting the days and times when buyers can view your home. If you can’t show it, you can’t sell it. In any market, if you want to maximize the sale, you can’t limit potential buyers’ ability to view it. Remember, minimal access equals minimal exposure.
In some cases, motivated buyers may come from outside of your local area. Because potential buyers are traveling, they might not have the luxury to adjust their schedules when faced with limited options to tour your home, so make it available as much as possible.
Is Your Home Priced Too High for Today’s Housing Market?
Price is a critical factor that can significantly impact your home sale. Price it to sell, not to sit. While it’s tempting to push the price higher to try to maximize your profit, overpricing can deter potential buyers and lead to your home sitting on the market longer.
Jeff Tucker, Senior Economist at Zillow, notes, “. . . sellers who price and market their home competitively shouldn’t have a problem finding a buyer.”
Don’t forget that buyers today have access to several real estate websites and apps to view homes for sale in your area. If your home is priced unreasonably high compared to similar homes, it may drive potential buyers away. Listen to the feedback your real estate agent is getting at open houses and showings. If the feedback is consistent, it may be time to re-evaluate and possibly lower the price.
Does Your Home Have Curb Appeal?
In today’s housing market, when you are selling your home, remember the saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. If it looks good, it will make a good impression. Having a manicured exterior is just as important as how your home is staged inside. Freshen up the landscaping to improve your home’s curb appeal so you will make a good first impression. Investopedia states, “Curb-appeal projects make the property look good as soon as prospective buyers arrive. While these projects may not add a considerable amount of monetary value, they will help your home sell faster—and you can do a lot of the work yourself to save money and time.”
Don’t let that stop at the front door. By removing personal items (family photos and documents) and reducing clutter inside, you give buyers more freedom to picture themselves in the home. Additionally, a new coat of paint or cleaning the floors can go a long way to freshening up a room.
Ask your real estate agent for expert advice based on your unique situation and the feedback you get from buyers throughout the process.
Are Your Personal Documents and Valuables Tucked Away?
An often-overlooked facet of selling your home is crucial for privacy and protecting against identity theft. Hide your personal belongings.
When listing a home, our agents at Wenzel Select Properties always inform the seller to hide any personal items including income tax documents, invoices, photographs, jewelry, camera equipment, medical information and medication, and irreplaceable items. We also make sure none of these items are visible when videos and photos of the home are being taken to view online.
Lisa Wenzel and her team advise clients to create some sort of safe area for stashing confidential paperwork and valuable belongings. Prospective buyers can sometimes be nosy, so it’s important to designate one area within the home that can be locked up.
Contact a Trusted Downers Grove Real Estate Agent
If your home isn’t getting a lot of showings and/or selling in the timeframe you wanted, talk to a real estate agent for advice on what you may need to change. To get those expert insights, contact a
Downers Grove real estate agent at Wenzel Select Properties today! Call
(630) 430-4790.
Wenzel Select Properties is a leading Downers Grove Real Estate Company located in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We are located at
4941 Main Street in Downers Grove, Illinois, Team Wenzel provides expert real estate support to individuals and families in
Downers Grove, Lisle,
Darien, Lombard,
Westmont, Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, Oak Brook, and
Woodridge, as well as other Chicago area communities.
