We have a home to sell in Hope Mills, NC due to a job relocation. It's only 1 1/2 yrs old and has been on

Carol Auman
Home Seller
Hope Mills, NC

the market for over 6 mths now. What is the miracle to find a buyer for our home. We've recently changed realtors and have had just 1 showing and a total of 4 showings this year. Any advice to someone trying to sell due to relocation? We like to get out before school starts end of August 2008.

Answers (2)
Keith Sorem
Agent
Glendale, CA

Carol
You should know that homes are selling, right? Just not your home.
Ask your Realtor how many homes like yours have sold in the last six months.
The buyer that first sees the home they buy sees it with a Realtor 90% of the time (2008 Buyer Poll CAR)
So if a home is not receivng showings, that means that the Realtors are all on vacation....no, just kidding.
Realtors are showing homes that offer the most value. Your home is not projecting enough value to show.

The easiest way to add value is to lower the price. There are other things you can do, like include a home warranty, offer a buydown program, include extras, like patio furniture, in the sale. You need 10-12 showings in the first two weeks to get an offer. Listings that sell in the first 30 days sell closest to asking price, so pricing the liisting iwthin a range of value (plus or minus 2.3% is the goal).

Listings with 180 days on the market (DOM) will receive much lower offers because they are "stale"/

Suggestions:
Talk with your Realtor. Look at your competition. I helped a client in Oklahoma sell his home. He complained as you did that he'd had it on the narket, but no shownigs. He hired a new Realtor that I suggested, lowered the price, it sold in two weeks.

You are going to pay a price now for being over-priced. How long has it been on the market with the new REaltor?
Clean, declutter, re-arrange furniture, and take new photos
Plant some nice lfowers in front, add a few shrubs, change the curb appeal
Mail out 200 invitations to neighbors for a special summer open house, bbq hot dogs, have a jump house, offer a raffle for an Ipod.
Put it on Craigslist
Make sure it's on Trulia
Look at the other listings that you are competing with and add one thing they don't have...a buydown program would instantly make yours more affordable, talk with your Realtor

Good luck!

Tue Jul 8 2008, 11:45
Lizete Santos
Broker
Cary, NC
FIRST ANSWER

Hi Carol,

You should make sure your home has great curb appeal, is clean, uncluttered and presents well to prospective buyers. You mentioned your home is relatively new. Are they still building in the area? If so this can be very negative for you because now you'll be competing with new construction. Try offering some buyer incentives namely closing costs.
You may also consider lowering your price. Discuss this in detail with your agent and get his/her feedback. What is going on in your local market? Have other homes sold? Based on the few # of showings you may be overpriced. Have your agent do a market analysis and analyze the data. He / she should be able to give you an idea of what price you'll have to be at to sell your home in the next couple of months.

Good luck!
Lizete

Tue Jul 8 2008, 10:40

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Ask a question!

Search Advice & Opinions

Ask a question

Got a real estate question? Get answers from locals, experts and real estate pros.
Ask
Email me when…

Learn more

View all » 1 - 3 of 4
Copyright © 2009 Trulia, Inc. All rights reserved.   |   Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Help us improve our service—send us feedback