You’ve done everything right – you’ve contacted several estate agents, got your affairs in order, tidied your home to the nth degree, and finally listed it online.
But there’s just one problem; it isn’t selling. If it’s been more than a few months and buyers aren’t making offers – or even booking viewings – something could be wrong.
The good news is, there’s always a fix. Let’s take a look at the top reasons why a home doesn’t sell and how you can get things back on track.
1. It’s Overpriced
First up, if your property isn’t selling, there’s more than likely something wrong with the price point. Bad estate agents are notorious for overpricing properties to win your favour and your business.
If your offers are way under the asking price, it may be listed far too high. While your estate agent could have valued it badly, it might not be entirely their fault. Changing interest rates can quickly impact property prices and the affordability of buyers.
If other homes in your area are dropping in value slightly, yours should, too. Many sellers worry about the margins, but if you’re buying a new home simultaneously, it can still work out in your favour – sometimes more so.
Check your property is valued right with our expert online valuation tool. Or explore sold house prices in your area to see if your home aligns with the current market.
2. It’s Outside the Search Brackets
Your property may not be overpriced, but it may be slightly higher than your buyer’s search brackets on property portals. It’s like if your property is listed for £410,000.
On Zoopla, for example, the filters are £400,000 to £425,000. Your buyers could be looking at homes in the £400,000 region. They could stretch a little higher to your price point, but not as far as £425,000.
Which means they aren’t seeing your property and you’re missing out on a lot of potential buyers.
You don’t have to lower the price to expand your buying pool, but changing your strategy to “offers over £400,000” can widen it significantly – which can lead to more viewings and hopefully more offers.
3. Your Listing Photos Aren’t Selling It
Listing photos sell a property – there’s no doubt about it. You may not realise it, but your images could be deterring sellers from even booking a viewing.
If you’re getting viewings, but no offers, this likely isn’t the problem. But if you haven’t had a single viewing in a long time, your pictures may be the real issue.
Think about things like:
- Does your home look bright?
- Do the rooms look spacious?
- Are there enough photos? (Zoopla recommends 15, but the more the better)
- Is every room photographed?
- Is the property tidy?
- Is there anything pictured that could put a buyer off?
Ask a family member or friend for their honest advice. Or consider getting another estate agent’s opinion on what might be wrong with your listing.
4. The Property Description is Too Brief
A property description doesn’t exactly sell a property, but it’s still important. Buyers don’t have a lot of time to research a home. They certainly don’t want to waste time booking viewings if they’re not totally sold on the property or its neighbourhood.
If they’re happy with the price and the photos, the next thing they check is the description. When it’s worded right, it can persuade them to take the next step. When it isn’t, they may not bother contacting the estate agent at all.
Ask your estate agent to revise your description if your house isn’t selling. Suggest ideas, like adding location highlights or a room-by-room walkthrough. It certainly won’t hurt to shake things up a bit.
5. Your Estate Agent Isn’t Motivated
Your estate agent should be selling your home, but the truth is, many agents out there are very busy. When a home has been on the market for a while, they can forget about it or run out of ideas.
They can even lose interest in selling your property entirely. All you need to do is visit social media to hear horror stories of estate agents ghosting buyers’ calls or standing them up at viewings.
If you have concerns, schedule time to discuss what your agent has been doing to sell your home. Ask their opinion on different strategies or suggest new things to try. If you’re still unhappy, consider whether changing estate agents is the right move.
Conclusion
When a house isn’t selling, it isn’t always the estate agent’s fault. But there’s no denying that they have their fingers in all the pies responsible for selling your home.
If you’re genuinely concerned about the progress of your sale, it might be time to consider changing your estate agent.
Our local agents are experts in selling properties. Explore your options and book an estate agent valuation today. We can discuss your buying strategy and find a faster, more effective way to sell your home.