Something every Seller wants is Buyer's Feedback. Over the years, I've collected feedback for reasons why buyers did not make an offer. Hopefully, this list will help and provide possible reasons and explanations.
BUYER'S AGENT CANCELLED OR NEVER SHOWED UP
The first impression scared them off, e.g., poor condition of neighborhood or exterior of property, poor curb appeal, water towers, railroad tracks, barking dogs, cracked sidewalks, no landscaping or a jungle of weeds, overgrown shrubs, no lights on at the front porch, lock-box couldn't be found - Something offensive or outside of their control sent them away before they got inside.
BUYERS DIDN'T LIKE THE WALLS AND/OR FLOORING
Paint may be cheap (compared to major appliances) but the labor is costly and time-consuming. Buyer may not like to paint, want to paint, or want to hire someone to paint for them. Colors are subjective. Flooring is as important to buyers as the exterior brick, stucco, or siding. Flooring takes a beating from stinky feet, shoes, everyday wear-tear, stains and spills. It needs to be clean, fresh, updated, and sellers need to understand everyone has their own taste.
BUYERS THOUGHT THE ROOM SIZES WERE TOO SMALL
If a house is cluttered it looks smaller. Buyers are looking where to put their furnishings and clothing in the closet. If rooms are overflowing and crowded, why should a buyer settle for less?
BUYERS DETECTED AN ODOR
Offensive smells that are hard to overcome. Is it a coverup? Urine from pets? Sewage problem? Dirty house? Food odors? Garbage can? Something dead inside the walls? Smoke? The nose often leads a buyer out the door.
BUYERS COULDN'T ACCOMMODATE SELLER'S SCHEDULE
Time is valuable. Setting up rules for appointments is challenging. Best example: Can you imagine running out of toilet paper, rushing through traffic to get to the store, only to find out the door is locked and you can't get inside or you're told, come back another time? Outward actions, behaviors, decisions and bad communication, sets up an attitude of distaste, anger, and rejection.
BUYERS WANT TO BE RESPECTED AND AFFIRMED
The "golden rule" (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you) is a well known universal truth. Trying to control someone else's time and expectations for what they should pay or settle for does not gain competitive advantage. Seeing is believing. People's decisions are influenced by their perceptions. A material fact does not have feelings, but people who are inadvertently disrespected through misrepresentation, words, and actions do not easily forgive. A home, like people, deserve to be affirmed as something of value and worth.
©Patricia Feager, 3/5/2017
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