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What To Do If Your Home Isn’t Selling

How long is too long for a home to be on the market? Neutralize your color scheme. Most buyers prefer
It’s not an exact science, but there are some helpful pale, neutral colors that make it easier to
indicators. In a dry market, a sales period of six imagine a new home as their own. Houses
months to one year isn’t unusual. Look at recent with white exteriors are the highest sellers; for
sales reports of similar homes nearby to determine a interiors, try whites, off-whites, or pale grays.
reasonable selling interval. In a hot seller’s market, a
house that hasn’t sold within one month indicates a If you’ve had offers but you considered them too
problem. In either case, there are several steps you “low-ball,” try re-adjusting your sights. Determine
can take before putting up the white flag. the lowest price you find acceptable, and consider
anything more as icing on the cake. In a longstanding
Ten tips to improve your sellaing karma: dry market you may even have to sell at a loss, so it’s
Videotape your house, inside and out, and watch the important to take every offer seriously. You don’t want
tape as if you were a prospective buyer. Is the lawn to alienate a potential buyer who has solid financing
full of weeds or is the garden bare? Is your home because you’ve set your sights unrealistically high.
uncluttered and scrubbed spotless? Sparkling clean
houses sell faster than those that look too lived-in Is your listing agent giving your house adequate
or show an abundance of the owner’s personality. attention? If not, start by having a candid talk. If
there’s no change, discuss the problem with the firm’s
Take a second look at your listing price. Visit open broker. As a last resort, wait until your listing agreement
houses in your neighborhood. Are similar homes expires and find an agent with a proven track record in
priced lower? Selling prices may have dropped your area. On the other hand, if you have a fabulous
since your first comparative market analysis. In a agent but the market is underwater, consider offering
hot market, if you haven’t sold your home within one an increased commission or a bonus for your listing
month, chances are good that you’ve overpriced agent as an extra incentive. If you do sweeten the pot
it. If you do lower your asking price consider a for your agent, amend your listing contract to reflect
figure slightly below those of other comparable the change, and be sure it’s added to the Multiple
homes if you are interested in a speedy sale. Listing Service (MLS) book - buyer’s agents will also be
inspired to give your house extra attention.
Do whatever it takes to be away from your home
during showings and open houses. The presence of Re-list your house to give it a kick-start. When it
sellers makes it difficult for prospective buyers to take was listed on the MLS, it was assigned a number
their time or talk openly with their partner and agent. reflecting the date and year of the listing. By
now it may appear outdated to buyer’s agents;
Ask your listing agent to talk to buyer agents in his or re-listing will provide you with a new number.
her firm who have shown your home. The feedback Check into the policies of your local MLS: You
from their clients can guide you in making home may need to make a change to qualify for re-
repairs, toning down your décor, making landscaping
improvements, and the like. listing, such as temporarily taking your home off
the market, adjusting its price, or changing listing
Take out some extra newspaper ads or print up flyers, agents or firms.
even if your agent is doing a good job with promotions. Whether you’re in a bone-dry market or a sizzling selling
Look for out of the ordinary places to advertise, such season, if you haven’t received any offers on your home,
as trade magazines, company newsletters, and other you’re probably facing the question of whether or not
alternative resources. to take it off the market. A house that goes too long
without selling begins to appear “stale” and can actually
damage your future chances of a sale.

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