Not all markets are red hot: 4 reasons listings sit

Some homes are now going on the market because sellers can finally break even or realize a profit. While many Puget Sound neighborhoods remain hot with low inventories, other areas around the state and the nation have listings that have begun to sit. Maybe the listing has one of these common buyer turnoffs mentioned in Coldwell Banker’s national blog:

1. Not accommodating showings. Sellers may be annoyed at constantly preparing for home showings or open houses but not having their home readily available for such buyer tours will likely prompt the home to linger on the market. Requested showing times or demanding to be present during showings can hamper the sales process.

2. Covering up potential issues. Masking potential issues – from odors to a bad foundation – can be a costly mistake in the end, for the seller too. Serious defects that a seller knows about but fails to disclose can result in a buyer who backs out at the last minute, asks the seller to fix the issue, or even involve the seller into a lengthy legal battle after the transaction has closed.

3. Failing to prepare the home. Clean, de-cluttered, and neutral spaces are important in helping buyers to envision themselves living there. Sellers who keep an abundance of knick-knacks; dated, worn furniture; or overly bright, dark, or distracting colors can turn-off buyers.

4. Overpricing the home. Sellers need to know that the price they paid for the home has no bearing or guarantee on its sales price when they go to list. The market condition of the home and comparing how recent nearby homes have performed will influence what their home is worth. A house sitting on the market because it’s overpriced will just deter interested buyers. A home that is not appropriately priced for the market can prompt many buyers to just overlook it.