Having a hard time selling your home? There are 5 things that will affect the sale of your home. Before you bludgeon your Realtor, review this list and see if any of these apply. They are, in order of importance, Price, Location, Condition, Accessibility and Market Conditions. Let's visit each one in more detail.

The biggest and number 1 hindrance in getting your home sold is the Price. Pricing your home is the single most important part of selling your home. I would absolutely recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified Real Estate Professional (such as myself) in order to price your home correctly. We, as home owners, tend to place a higher value on our homes. We have built memories in our homes and have great affection for them. You must take into consideration though the homes that have sold in the last 6 months in your community and try to look at it from a buyer's stand point. You will only sell your home for what the market in your area will allow. It's so important not to come out of the chute with such a high price that it turns buyers away. When doing so, your home will sit and will become stale to active buyers. After sitting at the incorrect price for too long, if you take a reduction to try to correct the list price, buyers will hold out and wait on you to keep reducing in order to get a bargain.

It IS all about Location! Location, location, location. When it comes to selling our home, we can't do anything about the location because we have already bought. However, while you are in the home buying process, it's so important to consider where you are buying along with what you are buying. Are there creditable schools in your area? Are you close enough to adequate shopping and restaurants? Different areas go through cycles of desirability. The suburbs may go through a time of boom, but when inflation kicks in and gas prices go up, people will tend to try to stick closer to their workplace. It seems as though the homes located closest to the city's inner city or hub of activity retain their value and reach the greatest appreciation.

Let's venture into the sticky area of Condition. First impressions are everything. Please do ask our advice when you choose to have an agent sell your home. We are able to walk through your home and point out the things that would help present your home in the best light. Yes, a new coat of paint in a neutral color will help. How is that carpet looking? Do you have some updated frieze or the 70's shag? Do you have pets and if so, do your carpets have a pet odor? How about the counter tops? Are they full of clutter or nice and clean? Remove as much "stuff" as possible and don't over do it with large furniture pieces. You want to make sure your home looks as large as possible and that buyers can envision their things in your home.

How easy is it to Access your home for showings? Are you working along side your agent to make sure your home is accessible at all times? Are you restricting showings on your home on certain days/hours, thereby missing out on potential buyers? It is difficult to live in your home while selling it; I know, I've been there. It's especially challenging when you have little ones or pets. We must make the home available to be seen by every potential prospect. The more showings you have, the greater likelihood you will have an offer on the horizon.

The last item on the list is Market Condition. If you are living in an area that has seen decline in recent months, you will most likely stay on the market longer. Thank goodness here in Houston we haven't been hit too hard with this. Our average time on market is right under 6 months. This is the one condition that you have no control over. This one just has to be ridden out. Markets do go through cycles. Be sure to ask your Realtor where you are in that cycle.

As always, if you need any additional information or have any questions, I'm only an email, phone call, text or twitter away!