If your home has been sitting on the market for some time, i.e., over 30 days, and you are still not able to land a decent offer, it might be time to go over your listing to see if anything can be done to make your Burlington home more appealing to homebuyers.
There can be many reasons why a home is not selling, but to be able to deal with them, sellers need to know what needs fixing. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons a home isn’t selling and what you can do about it.
The price is too high
The most common reason homebuyers look away from a listing is because it is too expensive compared to other similar homes in the area. Pricing a home higher than what is typical for your Burlington neighbourhood for comparable properties will eventually do more harm than good. Such homes usually spend too much time in the market and end up being sold under market value.
Many sellers hope to lower the price down the road if the initial price does not pick up, but that is not how it works. The home’s value drops the more it is on the market, so there is little time to experiment with the price.
How can we help?
We at The MartinGroup usually price and position a listing where it is likely to sell in the first 30 days. We follow the latest developments in the market, keep track of Burlington home prices and have vast experience in building successful sales strategies. So, if you suspect that the asking price might be the reason for your home not selling, give us a call and let’s talk about how we can get you back on the right track. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for a sale.
Minor fixes
If you are one of the sellers who gets lots of showings but not an offer (and you are certain it is not the price), you might be having a problem within the home. Homebuyers notice a lot of things during a showing, from squeaky door hinges and paint peeling off to lower water pressure and HVAC not working properly, so no issue should be taken lightly.
How can we help?
We screen your home and help you identify and fix anything that could affect the home's value.
Over-staging
Some sellers get carried away in the staging process and go overboard in styling the home. You may like eccentric furniture or a shrill wall colour in the living room, but it is an acquired taste for many. And while there are buyers who fall in love with an unusual deco style, they are fewer in number compared to the masses who prefer neutral colours and simple design. Your goal is to attract the masses, not niche groups, so make sure to eliminate all unusual items and decor.
No staging at all
Showing a vacant home makes it hard for buyers to envision how the layout works out in everyday life, and it is hard to show a home’s best features without at least a few pieces of furniture. No staging and no furniture usually affect a home’s value given that buyers don’t show as much interest in such listings as they do in tastefully staged homes.
How can we help?
Through our experience, we got to know how the average Burlington buyer thinks and feels. We know what buyers prefer and expect to see in a home and at a home showing, so contact us for more staging tips.
Not addressing a specific issue
Many homes have specific features that may be unfavourable, like an inconvenient entrance, a closet that is taking too much space or a neglected backyard. If your home is not selling, you should ask for feedback after showings to identify the main problems and do damage control. While it may incur some costs to fix the issues, it is still far more costly to get the home on the market in such condition and lose valuable time and money in the long run.
How can we help?
Having dealt with homes in all shapes and forms, we are able to identify potential deal-breakers early on and warn our clients. Even if your home is already on the market and has a major flaw, we can still help you address the problem with valuable reno tips and tricks.
Poor marketing
Marketing a home includes everything from listing the home on the right websites and distributing flyers to professional photos and virtual tours (especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic), as well as showing the home in the best light. If any of those elements is missing, you might be depriving yourself of the opportunity to find and attract buyers. Buyers nowadays rely on websites, photos and videos to browse listings, so you need to be on top of the game.
How can we help?
We pay detailed attention to our marketing strategies, and we will make sure Burlington homebuyers see your listing. We work with professional photographers and stagers who can turn any home into a gorgeous listing that attracts the right audience.
If you have worked alone so far, and your home has not sold yet, The MartinGroup is ready to help you tackle the issues. Tell us about your home selling process and what you think the main reason is your home is still on the market. We will do our best to find a solution to your problem. Give us a call 905-338-2083 or contact us here.
When it comes to new subdivisions, we give up the mature neighbourhood feel we get in places where trees stretch out and form a green canopy over the street. We exchange this for the convenience of a newly built home in the suburbs with our choice of lot and floor plan, no repairs, and the thrill of being part of a growing community.
However, we frequently overlook the fact that even the most established neighbourhoods today were once brand new. Therefore, we must start like all the older generations and plant trees for our new homes!
So, What Can We Do?
The first step in creating or rebuilding a green canopy is to plant trees where possible on individual lots. It does take time, but not nearly as much time as you might think.
Aside from planting trees, landscaping your yard will help it look more established and comfortable. This will give your garden form and structure, as well as frame the front of your house, and they'll add beauty now and, in the years, to follow. There is an old saying, “the person who plants a tree knowing they will not see its maturity, understands the meaning of life."
Important Tip:
Plant in the fall. Most garden centres cut prices in the fall. You can either save money or get a much more mature tree for the same money. Really a win/win/win. For you, your neighbours, and the planet.
So, let's start planting trees in our newer neighbourhoods! This will not only help the environment, but it will also reward you when it is time to sell!
Contact The Martin Group today for more information, or to find you the right home with beautiful and plentiful trees.
