Things that Prevent Your Home from Selling

• Linda Moore, Neighborhoods and News
• Encinitas home selling tips, home selling tips, Linda Moore, linda moore blog, Real Estate Agent Linda Moore Coldwell Banker Encinitas California
• July 8, 2015

When home owners put their home up for listing, they want it to sell within the first 180 days. The longer a home is on the market, the more potential buyers might question the home, as well as the person trying to sell the home. Today, we’ll look at some things that may prevent you from selling your home.

The Market

Depending on the economy and time of year, the housing market can fluctuate. This can make it difficult for people trying to sell their home because the advantage goes to the home buyer. It is important that you thoroughly research the housing market in your area prior to listing, to ensure you have proper expectations about selling your home.

How Long It Has Been Listed

As mentioned earlier, there is a window you want your property to be on the market. Earlier this year, houses were on average listed 102 days prior to selling. The lower the number of days on the market, the better off you are. Some home buyers believe that if a house has been on the market, nearing the 180 day mark or more there is room for negotiation on price. This can make you get less for your home than you desire.

Bad Timing

Spring is the best time of the year to list your home for sale. Ideally, you want it to be up for listing December 21^st to March 21^st. Before or after this time frame, odds become less in your favor as much as 10 percent or more in certain areas.

Phrasing

The words you use to market your home can greatly influence its appeal to home buyers. Using words like ‘unique’ for a home listing were found to sell up to 50% more, while using the word ‘nice’ were 1 percent less likely to sell. Ideally, your description should be around 250 words, the longer the description, the more likely a home will sell.

Not Using a Real Estate Agent

Trying to sell ‘by owner’ might not work in your favor. You may reach about one in five buyers, especially if you lack a marketing strategy. It is best to use a reputable agent that is vetted with a track record for selling in your area.

If you are looking to sell your home in the greater Encinitas area, I’d be happy to assist you. Give me a call or send me an email and we can discuss more about your home, your expectations and put together a plan of action to get your home listed and ready for sale. I look forward to hearing from you.

Linda Moore