The two main reasons why a property doesn't sell is because of price and location. But what if there were other factors that a Seller couldn't see? What if, the Agent suggested to reduce the sales price but the Seller didn't want to believe that reducing the price was the answer? Less obvious becomes more obvious over time. Let's explore other reasons that could be a factor in not getting any offers:
Environment Changes
Has the community changed in demographics? Could it be that the property location wasn't a problem when the house was built but now that the population has grown the quiet street you live on or that backs up to your home now has as many cars driving down the street as there are on a highway? Traffic noise that didn't exist years ago now exists and the owner has adapted.
Parking Is a Problem
Have the neighbors caused a problem causing overcrowded conditions? What if you were the original owners and all your neighbors, including yourself parked their cars inside the garage but now because the family has grown, there are too many cars per household and owners have to park on the street where there are no HOA restrictions? Could it be that a neighborhood that has too many cars on the street will deter a new buyer? A buyer coming from an apartment complex has reserved parking and people don't park anywhere they want. Think about this: An apartment complex restricts parking for a reason.
Smells
Not all people are created equal. The nose knows the difference between pet owners and people who don't own pets. Some noses know when pet odors are present and the same is true with food odors - the nose knows what it likes and what it doesn't like it doesn't hang around to adjust to the odor. To my knowledge, there is no substitute for a clean house and there isn't a single product on the market that can fool the public. An Agent has no control over other people's behavior when it comes to home odors.
Property Condition
The Seller may be positive their house is perfect and doesn't need deep cleaning or repairs. But what if Buyers were taller or they were maintenance people by trade or had a professional house cleaning lady? A person who is six feet or higher sees things a shorter person doesn't. They will generally look from their eyeballs up and can see dust on crown moldings, picture frames, ceiling fans, light fixtures, cracks on ceilings, dirt on top of curtains rods, etc. A shorter person may pay more attention to floors and baseboards. Height matters and again, owners and tenants will adapt to property condition. What they don't see, or pay attention too, doesn't mean it doesn't exit. Remember, even when properties are older to a first-time buyer or even experienced home buyers, older properties are still new to a new buyer.
Landscaping
Think fruits and vegetables - all plant life is subject to decay, die, grow out of control, get pest infested, need pruning, or needs to be removed and/or replaced. Just because you planted trees or bushes 10 years ago or more, doesn't mean it's acceptable to buyers.
Obsolescence
Now this is a problem for Sellers. Buyers are not living in the past, thinking about how much something out-of-date cost the owner or the builder. Buyers are thinking present and into the future. There are four seasons to every year, 365 days in a year, and depending on season, weather conditions, costs, budgets, and structural adaptation, including standing water, fallen leaves, peeled paint, and functionality, a buyer sees all properties through different lenses than owners.
If I can help you buy or sell in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, I see things differently than buyers, sellers, and other agents too. I would love to earn your business.
©Patricia Feager, 11/26/2016
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