Some areas to consider if your home is not selling as quickly as you would like

There could be many reasons why your home is not be selling as quickly as you would like. Some sellers think that they are going to be able to unload their house for the asking price within a couple of weeks. While this may hold true for some, the majority of people have a much more difficult time making this happen. Do yourself a favor and be totally prepared for anything that comes your way during the selling process. We have mentioned a number of times in these articles, setting your expectations is an important factor when selling yourself, and will also help you to remain focused throughout the process, even when things are proving tough.

So what are some of the more common reasons as to why your house may not be selling?

First, you need to consider that it may not be your house that is the problem. The real estate market may simply be going through a down cycle, making it difficult for everyone to sell. Hiring a real estate agent won't solve this problem, although a good agent should be able to give you solid advice on how to position and price your property for maximum effect.

We recommend taking a fresh look at the property also. Perhaps ask a trusted friend to take a showing and tell you what they might find off putting. There could well be negative points about the house that you have gotten used to over the years that a fresh pair of eyes may help you to see. Are there some updates you can make so the house shows better?

Additionally, your competition may be holding you back. If there are many similar homes for sale in your area, you may find it difficult to move to the front of the pack. This is especially true if the other homes offer more, or if they are priced lower. Priced lower you say. But those houses don't have...or they have...problem! The single biggest factor that holds most FSBO sellers from moving their house is an emotional attachment affecting their judgment on the value of their home. If there are genuine economic factors that are keeping prices down you can always decide to sell later, if not, you may need to admit that the market has determined your house is not worth what you are asking. Again, take an objective look at comparable sales in the area, what are similar houses in your neighborhood being listed on the market for?