5 Mistakes People Make When Trying to Sell Their Home

Flathead Valley Real Estate Podcast with Brett Kelly

Looking to buy in the Flathead Valley? Get a full Home Search
Looking to sell in the Flathead Valley? Get a free Home Price Evaluation

Why homes don’t sell is a popular topic with us. We hear about it a lot and can tell you that only 57% of homes listed for sale actually end up selling. The ones that don’t usually fail for the same set of reasons. Today we want to list them so you don’t end up making the same mistakes.

1. The home is in poor condition. Check out your competition. If the majority of the homes on the market are not selling, then your home needs to outshine the top 10%. Look at how many are listed in your price range versus how many sell. If that’s a low number, then you better be the best one out there because there aren’t many buyers to choose from.
2. Not using professional photography. Buyers love photos. Oftentimes their quality determines whether a buyer wants to make the effort to walk through your house or not. Take the perspective of the buyer and make sure yours convey the proper layout of the home in an artful manner.
3. Have you paid for extensive marketing & advertising? In our business, there isn’t one thing we do that sells a home; there are several things. If you’re trying to sell it on your own and wondering why it hasn’t sold, it’s probably because your avenues for marketing are very low. When you hire an agent, find out how much money they’re spending, and where that money is going. You want as many buyers looking at your property as possible.


“

The number one reason homes don’t get sold is that people didn't research their price.

”




4. Have you hired the wrong listing agent? Before you hire an agent, review their business history. Look at things like how many homes they sell a year, and what they spend on marketing. Checking their track record is the best method of judging their ability to sell your home.
5. Not pricing the home to sell. Probably the number one reason homes don’t get sold is that people didn’t do their research on price. If you’re more than 3% above the market, the chances of you getting an offer are pretty slim. Many people prefer to start their price high and, if need be, lower it until they get an offer. I can honestly tell you that this strategy is a trainwreck. You’re much better off pricing the home right where it needs to be to begin with.

Remember these things when trying to get your home sold. If you’d like us to come and take a look at the home and offer our advice, we’d be happy to help. Otherwise, if you have any other questions don’t hesitate to give us a call or send an email. We’ll see you next time.