5 Reasons Your Home is Not Selling

You’ve cleaned up the house and made the minor repairs necessary to put your home on the market, but you still haven’t received any bids on your home. What gives? It’s common to ask why your home is not selling and feel frustrated when you see other homes in the area going quickly while yours sits quietly.

You love your home and all of its quirks, so sometimes it’s hard to understand why buyers are hesitant to jump on the deal. If you’re scratching your head wondering why your home isn’t receiving the multiple offers it deserves, we’ve got answers.

1. Your Home Isn’t Priced Correctly
When we asked our Realty Austin agents and Realty San Antonio agents to share their experiences and insights on why a home is not selling quickly, overpricing the listing was the number one answer.

“It’s almost always listing price if it isn’t getting showings or offers,” says Realty Austin agent Amy Edwards. “I’ve had clients think in this crazy market that they can get whatever they want. It might be true if the property is in a highly desirable area, but if the property is unique or takes a unique buyer, it needs to be priced accordingly.”

Working with an experienced agent who understands the demands of the market and can help you correctly price the property is crucial for selling your home for the best value and quickly.

Use this price estimate tool to see how much your home is worth.

2. It’s Difficult to Show the Home
With the current state of the market, buyers don’t have time to wait around and must act quickly. If they cannot get in to view the home, they might look elsewhere.

“Besides price, ease of showing can have an effect,” says Realty Austin agent Lily Clason. “The easier it is to show the home, the better the result.”

Be open to flexibility during times that are less convenient to your schedule. This might mean evenings or weekends will be the prime times when showings are happening.

“I’ve had buyers decide not to make the extra effort to see a home that is harder to show, even when it appears to meet all of their needs,” says Clason. “They sometimes take it as a sign that it’s not the one.”

3. It’s Lacking the Professional Marketing It Needs
This is another reason why working with an experienced agent and brokerage will help you close faster. If your home is hard to find on websites, through social media ads, and other forms of marketing—you’re missing an opportunity to get the word out on your amazing home.

It’s also important to have detailed descriptions, neighborhood information, and high-quality photos taken of the home so buyers can see the property in a positive light.

4. The Home is Dirty During the Showing
We understand that sometimes life gets in the way of keeping your house in tip-top shape. Even after you’ve cleaned the home for the photos, you’ll need to keep the house clean during the showing process as well.

“Over the last few weekends, I’ve started to notice the homes that lack basic cleanliness and tidying up have continued to sit,” says Realty Austin agent Michelle Barlow Dickens. “We’ve seen dirty dishes, dirty clothes on the floor, dirty cat boxes, and dog poop in several homes that looked good in the pictures.”

It’s hard selling a home you’re living in, but sometimes that’s the reality of being a seller. If the home is clean and it’s priced right, the inconvenience will be limited to a few days. If possible, plan a trip out of town or stay somewhere else so you’re not leaving everyday messes around the home during showings. 

Another option? Buy and close on a new home before you sell your old home. This means you don’t have to live there during the showings. There are a variety of programs out there helping you do just that.

5. Staging the Home is Essential
“Yes, even in a crazy seller’s market, staging is essential,” says Realty Austin broker associate Shelley Cartier. “In a slow market, it might be the home that sells. In a hot market, it will sell for the highest possible price.”

Simple updates like a fresh and neutral coat of paint and curb appeal improvement can do a long way to attract the right buyer. Showing that the buyer will not have to do a lot of cosmetic updates once they’re in the home will relieve some of their stress as they are walking through the showing.