Real Estate Writing Sample

Reasons Why Your House Hasn't Sold Yet Even in a seller’s market, there are always a few houses that don’t sell. If you look closely, you can usually spot the reasons why. Here are some of the things that can turn buyers off: House Priced Too High Everyone wants to get as much money as possible out of their home. Many people look at real estate as one giant savings account. They want to not only get back every penny they have put into the house but make a huge profit, too. If you insist on pricing your house above the market analysis, you are going to be waiting on offers for a long time. When a house has been on the market for months or even years, everyone starts to wonder what is wrong with it. If you haven’t had many showings and no offers after 30 days, you know something is wrong. Your agent should start talking to you about lowering the price. Listen to them! Getting your price in line with the market will get you more showings and hopefully, offers. Pet Smells Sometimes you will walk into a house and the smell will knock you down. There are lots of things that can cause bad odors. Figure out where the smell is coming from, then make a plan to get rid of it. Pets are the number one cause of odors. Don’t get me wrong, I love my dog. But he needs regular baths to keep him smelling sweet. Pet odors can get in your furniture and carpets if you have them. One way to keep your sofa or chair from smelling bad is to cover it and wash that cover frequently. You can get several varieties of powder to sprinkle on the carpet before you vacuum. Just be sure you don’t make matters worse by getting one that has a strong smell. You can also sprinkle plain baking soda on it and let it sit a few minutes to absorb the odors. Then vacuum it up and your room should smell better. Food or Trash Odors Cooking odors can last longer than the food it comes from. Especially when you fry things like bacon. I love it but the smell seems to linger for days. Using the vent hood while you are cooking is your best bet to remove most of the odor. You may also need to open windows or doors to let fresh air flow through. Be sure to take out your trash every day so it doesn’t get stinky. Mold Mold is not only smelly and ugly, but it can be a health hazard. And it is a red flag to homebuyers. Investors and house flippers usually have a plan to remove and repair these types of things. But someone who is buying a house to live in is going to pass on yours if they can see or smell mold. Get estimates on what it will cost to repair, then either have the work done or lower the price accordingly. Clutter Even if it is psychological, buyers need to feel like there is plenty of room in the house. If the rooms and closets are full, buyers get the impression there won’t be enough room for all their stuff. Clean off tables and counters. Things that you use every day in the kitchen or bathroom can be stored in baskets under sinks or in cabinets. Pull out the basket you need and put it back when you are finished. Easy way to make these rooms look spacious and neat. Seller Insists On Being Present Buyers need to be able to open drawers, cabinets, and closets. If the owner is present, it will be too uncomfortable and they won’t do it. If the seller is at home, the showing is only going to last a few minutes. They will rush through the house and won’t be able to take their time and explore every little nook and cranny. Please, please, please go for a drive while people look at your house. And take your dog, if you have one. Most showings won’t last more than an hour. I bet you can find something to do for an hour. Final Thoughts I could probably write a book on the reasons that a house may sit on the market too long. These are only a few of the most common ones. If any of them sound like you or your house, listen to your agent. Get your price right. Clean out the clutter and the bad odors. Take advantage of the showing time to get out and go shopping. Give buyers time to take in all the features, Give them time to imagine themselves living here. Give them time to fall in love with your house.