As a prospective home buyer, you may be wondering, are there factors that could make a house unsellable, even in the best of markets?
What Makes a House Unsellable?
A number of things can make a house harder to sell, especially at a particular price point, namely:
- A bad location– if your home is next to an airport or has train tracks running through the backyard, it may be harder to sell even if it is beautiful.
- A bad price– If you are selling your house at an unrealistic price it may be time for a reality check. It can be hard to settle for less than what you thought you would get out of your house, but you have to consider the possibility that the house could not sell at all at a higher price point.
- Poor light or architecture– poor natural lighting can make a home look less appealing, and can be a tough fix without adding extra windows. Poor architecture can also make a home harder to sell, like low ceilings or bad floor plans.
- Environmental issues– problems like perpetual mold or a cracked foundation can make a home harder to sell as potential buyers will be taking on a big, potentially expensive, fix.
- Poor staging and disrepair– if you’ve been putting off cosmetic fixes or if you’re staging with outdated decor it’s probably not encouraging to potential buyers. Buyers want to be able to see themselves within the home, but if it’s cluttered and run-down looking that may be difficult.
- Odd quirks– some realtors cite bad smells as the reason a home won’t sell, specifically those from cigarette smoke or cat urine. A death in the home can also make it more difficult to get the home off the market.
- Difficult sellers– if you are unwilling to show your home or negotiate on the price point, you could be what’s keeping your home on the market.
What Can You Do About It?
If you have what seems to be an unsellable house, it can be hard not to lose hope that you’ll ever wash your hands of it. However, you do have options.
- Consider hiring a professional decorator– if you are having issues staging your home yourself, bringing in a professional could be a quick fix.
- Set a more realistic price– if your home isn’t moving at the price you first listed it at, it may be time to set a more realistic price and consider lower offers.
- Be more amenable– if you’ve been a difficult seller up to this point, it may be time for an attitude adjustment. Be more open to showing your home and taking suggestions.
For some issues like poor location, environmental issues, deaths on the property, or poor architecture, there are no quick fixes. If you’ve got a house with any of these issues that you can’t move off the market, give us a call.
Contact N.H. Homebuyers
To us, there is no such thing as an unsellable house. We buy houses in any condition so if you are looking to sell your home in the Southern New Hampshire area, from Amherst to Hollis, N.H. Homebuyers are looking to buy. Contact us today for a free consultation, and you could have cash in hand for your house in as little as seven days.