Five reasons your house won't sell

Thousands of homes sit on the market with no buyer interest.

The owners always wonder, "Why doesn't my house sell?  Is it because of the bad real estate market?"

It's true, the economy has tanked and unemployment in South Florida is high but there are other reasons a house doesn't (or can't) sell.

1) Price is too high - Realtors everywhere concur that in a buyer's market the biggest obstacle is a high price.  Many sellers think that an interested buyer will 'just make an offer'.  Not true!  Buyers typically are afraid to make an at market offer on an overpriced property for fear of offending the seller.


Most agents won't even show a house that is priced too high.  The best deal in the neighborhood is going to be the first house to sell.

2) No curb appeal - Bad curb appeal keeps buyers and agents away.  It's a signal that there is something wrong with the house - even if the inside is completely updated an beautiful.  First impressions are always the most important.

Get rid of the chipped paint, trim the shrubs, plant some flowers and clean it up!  Fresh paint is also a must.  If nothing else, the front door should be painted and any outdated or unattractive hardware or lighting should be replaced.

3) Poor marketing - The goal should always be to outshine the competition.  In a poor market this is more true than ever.  Poor marketing can be the reason that the most attractive property doesn't sell.

Now more than ever before, the Internet is the most powerful marketing tool for properties.  What do people want to see on the Internet?  Photos, photos and more photos along with virtual or video tours and even floor plans.  What's could be MORE IMPORTANT than photos... Are you ready?  Great photos!  There are so many bad photos of properties on the Internet it's amazing.  Who can tell anything from a dark or blurred photo?  Why would someone include a photo of their easy chair?  Is the chair included?

4) Clutter - Beyond peeling paint and out of date fixtures, too many personal belongings distract from a home's interior.  Clutter takes up space, physically and mentally, making the rooms looks smaller.  Your interior should be as neutral as possible and inoffensive.  Believe it or not, I had to ask a past seller to remove nude photos of herself while the house was on the market.  Yes, it's true.

5) Location, location, location - A house in a bad location in a bad market is double trouble.  The only real option to battle location is to reduce the price.  Marketing may help by placing emphasis on the property's special features.  Got granite counters?  In a great school district?  Regular security or police patrols?  Get that message out there front and center!