There are a number of factors that can stop a home from selling and even though Markham is currently in a seller’s market, it doesn’t guarantee that your home will sell, or sell for what it’s worth, if these factors are in play. Here are six reasons your home might not be selling.
It smells
Nobody wants to live in a stinky home, so no matter how beautiful your home is, if there is a smell, people aren’t going to buy it. The main causes of non-negotiable bad smells are cigarette smoke, pets and water damage. In these cases, you need to start by fixing the cause of the offensive odour – stop smoking in the home, get the pets out and fix the damage. Other steps you can take include:
- Painting
- Replacing carpets and other upholstered items
- Using air freshener (which can only do so much)
- Wash everything
As well, to ensure your home smells appealing to potential buyers, you should always take out the garbage, clean up pet messes (litter boxes, etc.) and even bake some cookies.
It isn’t clean
Much like odours, dirt is a big turn-off for buyers. There is definite value in getting your home spic and span before you list it on the market. This isn’t just an everyday clean either – most surfaces should be spotless, including:
- Window coverings and windows
- Bathtubs and showers
- Baseboards, trim, light switches and door knobs
- Doors, railings and banisters
It is dated
Dated interiors just spell work to potential buyers. If you don’t have much of a budget, do what you can to remove the most-dated aspects of the home, like wallpaper and furniture that’s seen better days. Just these two actions could improve the home by 80% and have buyers seeing the bones of the home, and not the dated decor.
It is overpriced
Pricing your home too high is not a great strategy for any Markham home seller. It takes potential buyers out of your search and makes buyers assume you won’t give them a fair price for the home. Using your Markham real estate professional to help you choose the best price for your home is way better strategy.
It has no curb appeal
The first step to getting buyers into your home is to have them attracted to how it looks outside. If your home shows signs of disrepair, like a roof that needs updating or a broken or cracked driveway or walkway, buyers may just keep walking. As well, if a buyer drives up and gets a sickening feeling in the tummy because the home looks generally ugly, they will just assume the inside is the same and not view your home.
You don’t allow for showings
When you sell your home, you should make it as available as possible for showings at any times. While you are obviously still living there, you still need to make plans for the first few weeks that the home is listed to not be there and this includes your children and pets too. Get a lock box for the front door so agents can come and go easily. The more viewings your home gets, the better your chances at a good offer.
If you need help selling your Markham home, let’s get in touch.
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