WHY did no one tell me why my home was not selling?

Some times the easiest answers are not so easy when the home seller really does not know something is wrong. Despite a shortage of homes for sale in many markets, there are some homes that are not selling. Often it comes down to their choice of who they listed with.

Some choose a friend or relative. Others choose what they perceive as the biggest agent in the area. Then there are those who spin the Google wheel and choose based on an Internet search.

It is time for some straight talk for those whose homes are not selling and perhaps for those who are thinking of selling. Your choice of agent does matter. Lets look at this seller who called me over the weekend. His home has not sold. He has had few showings and the only two offers were really low. It took me as long as looking at the MLS photos to have a guess why it was not selling. I asked to see his home and sit and talk. Sure enough the interior condition matched the MLS pictures. That would be MESSY.

You may often hear me say not all agents are created equal. YES, it does matter who you hire to sell your home. The first thing to note is WHY did the agent not tell the seller they needed to get the home ready to sell? Why would they publish pictures showing the home in a negative light?

The secret to any good listing appointment is getting the message across and in this case, without offending the seller. How do you tell him that his home is messy? Some say cluttered to be politically correct. The bathroom photo says it all. The home is lived in. With 4 teenage kids, it gets a lot of use.

The seller wanted to know why it did not sell. The answers were many. Choosing an agent who did not look out for the sellers best interest, poor marketing, no advertising and no updates to the seller how to prepare for showings. 

We agreed on a price and terms of the listing. I then asked the sellers to walk through the home with me like they were buying. They also need to buy a home so I asked them what they saw. We started in the bathroom. The husband had an awakening as he said "what a mess". It was a soft approach that yields great results. Each room was the same.

IN SUMMARY, the seller saw the light. They would clean up each room. De-clutter the home by removing excess things and bulky furniture. Things would be put away and everything cleaned. Pictures would then be taken and showings can start. The goal to get the highest price in the shortest time.

IN THE END: The seller asked why the other agent did not tell them? He answered his own question by saying probably the same reason he never got any calls back. They were very happy they were referred to me. They had a message for all other potential sellers to not rush into listing with just anyone. Chose the best agent that will actually listen, help and work for them.

I leave you with my infamous thoughts, My philosophy is simple, provide more personal and professional service to guide my clients through each step of the buying or selling process. All Agents are not created equal and every buyer or seller should take the time to hire the BEST not just the biggest. Those that hire me, find a dedication like no other.