Things To Consider If Your House Didn’t Sell

If your listing has expired and your house didn’t sell, it's completely normal to feel a mix of frustration and disappointment. Understandably, you're probably wondering what may have gone wrong. Here are three questions to consider about your previous listing experience. 

Did You Limit Access to Your House?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when potential buyers can tour it.  We know it's inconvenient to drop everything, tidy the house, and leave for an hour or so when a showing request comes in at the last minute. But, being flexible with your schedule is important.

After all, minimal access means minimal exposure to buyers. This is especially challenging in our vacation/second-home marketplace where potential buyers might only be in town for a few days to tour homes that they're interested in. So, try not to limit the times that your home is available to tour, and remain flexible to accommodate out-of-town buyers. 

Did You Make Your House Stand Out?

When you're selling your house, the old saying matters: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Putting in the work to make the exterior of your home look nice is just as important as how you stage it inside. Freshen up your landscaping to boost your home’s curb appeal so you can make an impact upfront. As an article from U.S. News says:

“After all, if people drive by, but aren’t interested enough to walk through the front door, you’ll never sell your house.”

But don’t let that impact stop at the front door. By removing personal items and reducing clutter inside, you give buyers more freedom to picture themselves in the home.

Did You Receive Feedback?

Your real estate agent should have collected feedback from any showings that took place while your home was listed. If your home didn't have any showings, that might be a sign that it's priced too high, or that the availability to show the property was too restricted. If you did have showings, it's important not to discount the buyer's opinion and also their real estate agent's opinion. 

Look for a common theme with the feedback, and if it is something that you can adjust, work to make that happen. The most common feedback is on pricing. Setting the right price is key. While it might be tempting to push the price higher to maximize your profit, overpricing your house can actually turn off potential buyers and slow down the selling process. If your house is priced higher than others like it, it may discourage buyers, resulting in increased time on the market. 

What Do You Do Next?

Of course, there could be many reasons why your home didn't sell, some in your control, some out of your control. After you've considered the above questions, get in touch with a local, experienced real estate agent to chat about your situation. Rely on a reputable Realtor® to offer expert advice on relisting your house with effective strategies to get it sold.