Dear Marjorie,
We listed our home a month ago and have had lots of showings. Our agent is a family friend and has been really dedicated about holding it open. We listened to our agent and priced it very competitively and have had no complaints about the price. We live in the house and have done everything to be helpful but I’m dismayed that we have not received one offer in writing. Any suggestions on what could be wrong?
Dear Marjorie,
We listed our home a month ago and have had lots of showings. Our agent is a family friend and has been really dedicated about holding it open. We listened to our agent and priced it very competitively and have had no complaints about the price. We live in the house and have done everything to be helpful but I’m dismayed that we have not received one offer in writing. Any suggestions on what could be wrong?
Madge:It sounds like you’re doing everything right; so, it might be something simple that all parties close to the transaction/house might not even realize. You might want to suggest that your agent convene a panel of colleagues to ‘critique’ your home. They will give you their professional input on how it shows, curb appeal and price. This fresh look might reveal to you problem areas that you didn’t even know existed and are keeping buyers from putting their offers on paper. In the meantime, the following are some of the most common causes for ‘turning off’ buyers, but they are also the easiest to fix:
1) The biggest mistake sellers make is not getting the home showing it’s best. Even if you don’t have the money to replace the carpets or paint there is nothing better or more inviting to prospective buyers than clean and fresh.
If the carpets are old and smelly, consider shampooing them. You might also want to offer a carpeting/flooring credit to the new buyer as an incentive to buy instead of lowering the price. Contractors are hungry for work right now so you can bargain for a good deal on materials and labor.
When your house is listed, “It’s Showtime!” so keep your house clean, fresh and picked up at all times. Keep your home show ready even if you have to store extra ‘stuff’ in the garage to reduce clutter. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink. Buyers don’t want to see or smell them.
2) Keep the garbage emptied, pet items/food picked up and out of sight and all ashtrays emptied and put away. Make sure you remove your four legged ‘pals’ from the house. You love them but your prospective buyer may not and might dislike the house because of it. Freshen carpets, upholstery and curtains with an odor neutralizing spray, regularly. Don’t over do it with plug in fragrance oils – some buyers are allergic and you don’t want to look like you’re trying to hide something. Don’t forget to clean and/or replace the blades of any overhead fans.
3) It’s a relatively cheap fix to freshen up the hardware at the sinks, cupboards and light fixtures. Look for bargains on the internet or the clearance tables at HD; and give old tired, worn fixtures a facelift. Attention to detail is what catches buyers’ eyes and says: “I cared for this house”.
4) Either remove it or be prepared to offer a modest credit to the new buyer. Nowadays, people hate the look of old, dated cottage cheese on their ceilings.
5) Your mantra should be ‘less is more’ and neutralize. You want people touring your house to see themselves and their things in the space not your family possessions or pictures. De-clutter both things and furnishings. Put them in the garage or a spare room in neatly stacked boxes. You want your house to appear roomy and spacious.
If you love color, neutralize it! Your mind set needs to be: “This is no longer our home but is the house that we are trying to sell.
6.) You want your home to say: “Stop the car and come in!” Keep everything trimmed, watered and tidy. If there are bald spots in the yard seed them or re-sod. Plant color, mulch with wood chips and keep the yard in the best condition you can. Every little detail counts. You might want to consider power washing the driveway and walkway.
You want your house to invite guests not make them want to pass you by. And once they cross your threshold you want them to be glad they did and to instruct their agent to write an offer!
Marjorie Tyson is a Realtor for Prudential California Realty. She can be reached at 310-780-6698.
