Why is your Home NOT Selling?
If your house has been on the market for 6 months or more, chances are that you did a major cleaning prior to placing your house on the market, but have basically done only maintenance work since then. If you haven't done a major cleaning since, I would advise that you do!
Changing or updating the look of your house, both outside and in, helps to attract new buyers, and may help to generate new interest in potential buyers who previously just kept driving by your house or have seen it more than once on the web.
All good and professional agent knows that the quality of the photographs they post with their listings is crucial for generating good leads to the properties they represent. However, have you looked at what your home looks like on the web, since you listed your home for sale with your Agent?
As an Agent, I am often surprised and shocked by some property listing photos, I have seen on the net! Worst of all, those poor sellers are still wondering why? their home has not sold yet, after being on the market for so long. Chances are they have not done their homework and just like their Agent, they are waiting for a prospect buyer to call. Well, GOOD LUCK!!!
You may find my photo quite EXTREME! However, I can guarantee you that I have seen several similiar ones, on Belize Real Estate websites.
Therefore, my TIP of the day for SELLERS is take a few minutes and go see for yourself what your home looks like to the prospect buyers. If you have no internet access? I am sure you can ask a friend or family member to have a look for you and print you a copy.
Now, let's say that the house is cleaned and refreshed, consider new marketing strategies with your Agent or simply hire someone else, if you did not like what you saw!
- First, you'll want to update your protographs
- Will dropping the price help? This market is no longer about just price reductions!
- Fewer buyers mean increased competition! Make your house STAND OUT!!!
What I would recommend to my sellers is to add an incentive. Such as cash back on the closing day or offering to pay the buyer's closing costs.
For those people who need to quickly sell their house for a multitude of reasons, there are several options. One option is to rent the house or offer a lease-purchase option. Lease-purchase option is from my experience a great option here in Belize, as many new homeowners have a hard time obtaining a bank loan or are seeking lower interest rates. Which at times, a seller can more easily offer.Selling a house in this current market is frustrating to many sellers to start with, even if they have enlisted the services of one of the best agents in their area. Do what you can, when you can. Listen to your agent, and be patient with them. The commission you'll pay gives them a strong incentive to sell your house!
Smiles from Belize! Think positively! Have a little fun with it, and be persistent!
Best of luck!
Alexia
