So you’ve had your listed on the market forever and it’s still not selling? When this happens it can be super stressful. Keeping the house clean, getting it re-cleaned after showings, having to constantly leave so potential buyers can walk through, and then to be let down time and time again when no offers follow the showings…it sucks (just being honest). Let’s not forget about the financial aspect of it too – if you’re selling the house due to some financial hardship and you keep having to make payments, pay for repairs, or whatever, that can be draining too. If you’ve had to relocate, you’re now carrying the burden of paying and caring for two properties. If the days spent waiting for a sale are adding up to weeks and months, it can become downright depressing as every day passes. But there are likely many reasons why your Indianapolis house isn’t selling.
It’s time to make a change! When a listing lingers on the Indianapolis market (especially in this super hot market), something isn’t right with your listing. When something just isn’t working, you fix it. Given that you typically have just a few seconds to capture the attention of the average buyer as they scroll by your listing on the web, there’s no single fix that’s more important than another. It ALL matters when you list your home. So, read on to learn about these six reasons your Indianapolis house isn’t selling, and you can make better-informed decisions and finally sell your home.
Overpriced
If we’re being very honest…while everything about your listing is important…PRICE is literally numero uno. Every house sells when it gets to the right price. Buyers are intimately familiar with the areas they are searching in and they know the established expectations in pricing. If the features, location, and other determining factors don’t add up to your asking price, then your Indianapolis house isn’t going to sell. “Just make me an offer then”! Well, sure that sounds good. But, even though buyers are willing to make offers lower than the asking price, most don’t want to deal with the discomfort of coming in with an offer so far below your asking price that it would appear insulting. Setting the right price from the beginning is the best way to limit the time your home sits on the market waiting for a buyer. If you’re still waiting for your buyer…consider dropping your price right away. Most houses in this market are selling in days.
Outdated
When was the last time you caught an episode of some house flipping tv show? Did you see all the nice white cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and beautiful wood flooring? Your buyers did. And when buyers are walking through your home, they have expectations built around the latest technology and most up-to-date modern features of a home. You may need to renovate and update the elements of your home, from countertops to appliances and convenient features that meet the demands of today’s world. We understand you may love the wallpaper you’ve had since 1972, but if it’s turning off your potential buyers and could be the very reason your Indianapolis house isn’t selling then you need to fix it to get your house sold.
Repairs
Nobody wants to buy a broken anything, and certainly not a broken house. If obvious repairs are needed, this is could be another reason why your Indianapolis house isn’t selling. Most on-market buyers are looking for a home ready for their family to move right into and begin their new life. They won’t even consider offering on a house that needs repairs, especially if those repairs are significant. Additionally, as you may have already learned, bargain hunters typically include contingencies asking for credit against the cost of repairs. You can save yourself the pain of dealing with the latter and maybe overcome the obstacles with the former by just making the repairs yourself. This could be costly yes, but if it gets your house sold tomorrow then isn’t it worth it? One other thing to add – don’t try to just cover up the issues with your house. When you sell the house you’ll have to sign the residential sales disclosure stating the there are or are not any defects with the house. If you try to pretend that you’re oblivious to a problem which ends up resurfacing after the sale you could end up in a costly court battle.
Bad Advertising
Advertising is a multifaceted endeavor. Did your agent take pics of your house on their cell phone? Or did they pay for a professional photographer to take pics of it? Not only must the photographs in your listing be of top quality, but buyers also have expectations of virtual 360 tours, which require the services of professional photographers and possibly even drone pilots. The write-up needs to entice them with a fascinating description of the property to keep their attention on your listing. Then there’s the actual advertising of your property? Did your agent just put a sign in the yard? Or have they gone and knocked on people’s doors in your neighborhood, run Facebook or Instagram Ads, or sent post cards? Advertising is more than just putting their sign in the yard! If you or your real estate agent haven’t taken advantage of the vast pool of buyers offered by optimal advertising reach and content, this may be the reason your Indianapolis house isn’t selling.
Staging
Have you removed any personal items? Staging is widely used in marketing homes today because it gives the buyers the tools to imagine themselves occupying the space. If your family photograph is on the mantle, or your favorite color tone of blue is on the walls, it can prevent the buyer from picturing themselves living in the home. Using neutral tones and removing some of your belongings visible during walk-throughs can greatly reduce the time your house sits on the market. If it appears to be someone else’s home already, then you could be turning off buyers and this is a potential reason your Indianapolis house isn’t selling.
Availability
You can’t sell your house if you won’t show it. With the level of competition out there in this super hot market, if you have restrictions on when or how agents can show your house to potential buyers then they’re likely going to bypass your house and move on to the next. Everyone wants the easy button – and if you’re making it difficult for buyers then they won’t care. Sadly – it could be something you can’t prevent. Small children and strange sleep schedules, odd work hours, or someone in the home with a medical condition. All of these are very legitimate reasons that you may have to restrict agents’ ability to show your house but the end result is the same. Your house sits on the market while other homes that are easier to show end up getting bought. If you’re unable or unwilling to make your home open and available with a moments notice, then you definitely found another reason your Indianapolis house isn’t selling.
If any of these issues could be holding your house back from selling fast, then check out this blog post I wrote previously to get some info on some resources that might help you cure some of the problems!
Sooo…why wait or worry? 317 Home Buyers will pay you a great price, even if your Indianapolis house isn’t selling on the MLS. Find out how we can help solve your problems! 317 Home Buyers makes it easy, just call 317-623-4734 or send us a message today.