Why won't my house sell?

There are four basic factors to selling that influence the sale of a house. The first is location. There is not much you can do about the location of your home, but if it is backing onto a major transportation thoroughfare or located beside or backing onto a beautiful green space or park, market value will be influenced.
The second factor is condition. According to the National Association of REALTORS, 87% of buyer are looking for a move in ready home. If a buyer enters your home and sees repairs need to be done, their impression is that the home is not well cared for and  it may become a money pit. No one wants to buy other peoples' problems. 
When a buyer enters a home they want two questions answered: 
1. Does this home feel right for me and my family?
2. Is this home well cared for?
If the answer is yes to both of these questions you have a greater chance of getting an offer. For more information about getting your house ready for sale you can download my e-book here .
​The third factor is price. Every seller has an ideal price in mind for the sale of their house. If that price is in line with the current market value, sellers should expect close to that price. The buyer's greatest fear is that they will over pay for a house. The seller's greatest fear is that they will not sell the house for a high enough price and will miss out on profits.  There are very few buyers who do not educate themselves about pricing. The same should hold true with sellers.
​The fourth factor is exposure.  Is the house getting the market exposure it needs to get a sale? Are the listing photos professionally prepared? Is the property description describing features and benefits that target the ideal buyer? Does the agent use social media, open houses and other forms of marketing other than an MLS listing to get buyers through the door? In today's market, an agent who understands buyers and is savvy in online marketing can get exposure to more buyers and significantly speed up the sales process. 
If your house is not selling you need to ask yourself some hard questions:
​1. Is the location influencing the value?
2. Can I do anything to improve  buyers' opinions of the condition?
​3. Am I pricing my home relative to the current market?
​4. Is my agent getting my property the proper exposure?​

Couldn't sell your house?  Get an honest evaluation of your home, including a free no obligation market analysis and a review of the current market. Request a FREE CMA now.

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Jim Perks is a REALTOR in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He uses his expertise in Internet marketing and real estate experience to service both his buyers and sellers throughout the city of Calgary. He can be reached at RE/MAX Real Estate (Mountain View) 403-247-5178 or by email at [email protected]. His website is www.calgaryrealestateagent.