Help! My home in Cheadle isn’t selling

When you place your home on the market you’re filled with anticipation and excitement, but if things don’t go according to plan and initial interest fades, frustration and annoyance can set in.  There could be a number of reasons why your home isn’t selling, and even if they may be difficult to hear, getting it right could get your home sold sooner rather than later.  If you don’t want your property to stagnate and gather dust, grasp the nettle, be objective and ask could one of these reasons be why your home isn’t selling?

Location, Location, Location

We all know how the saying goes, the location of your home can be a valuable asset when attracting buyers, but as our villages, towns, and cities evolve and the infrastructure changes what’s around us, the appeal of a location can change.  Although you may adore where you live, should there be reports of flooding or a known flood risk, new planning applications close by, or even an old mine shaft, this could put buyers off.  Do your homework and be prepared.

If you know of an issue, there are things you can do, such as have surveys done in advance for potential buyers to view. This will help ease their worries and those of their lender.

The price isn’t right

This is a bitter pill to swallow for many. You may have an assumption about the value of your property based on previous sales in the area and the work you have undertaken whilst living there.  Whilst some estate agents may present you with an inflated valuation to win your business, at Maurice Kilbride we will always provide you with a competitive valuation, one that will attract buyers and also help us to negotiate the highest possible sale price for you. However, we get it wrong from time to time, value is not an exact science – sometimes market conditions change and you have to be prepared to alter your strategy and price.

Buyers are savvy. There is so much information available on the internet about every property. They will have been looking at property online and already have a feel for the market.  Therefore, a property that they deem to be overpriced is one which they will pass by without a second glance.  We want to ensure that your property grabs their attention and encourages them to view, which is why it’s essential to get the price right from the start, but if not to react quickly if it is apparent the price isn’t in line with the market.

Presentation

Buyers are not buying your things, they are buying the bricks and mortar, so it doesn’t matter how your home looks. Or does it?  Don’t be naive in thinking that people can see past your clutter and disorganised rooms, most people struggle to see beyond what’s in front of them.  Buyers are seeking a dream, and that comes packaged in a home that looks loved and cared for with natural décor and beautifully presented rooms with light streaming in from gleaming windows!

Moving home is the perfect time to have a major sort out, so before you put your house on the market start to work through each room of your home.  We all have things that we no longer want or need, clothes we hold onto ‘just in case’, and boxes of stuff that, honestly, we have no idea what’s inside.  The last thing you’ll want to do is take all this clutter to your new home, so do the hard work now and it will make getting your home ready for sale easier.

Poor maintenance

You know your home. You may have noticed that there has been an issue with damp, which you may have chosen to ignore.  A crack may have appeared, or your windows might have started to look like they’ve seen better days.  Signs of poor maintenance and structural issues will often make buyers run, so get any problems resolved before you place your home on the market. First impressions count, if your gate is hanging of its hinges, the garden path is all uneven and full of weeds, the grass and hedge unkept and the paint peeling of the front door – what sort of impression will that create on potential buyers?

You’re not ready

Are you ready to sell your home?  This may sound like a silly question, but if you have any doubts about moving you can unknowingly sabotage a sale.  Moving home is stressful, and this is only heightened if you are reluctant.  You need to find a way to focus on the home you’re looking to buy rather than the one you’re about to leave behind.  By doing so you will be able to make decisions that are in the best interest of the sale.

Sold

It’s easy to have an emotional bias when you decide to sell your home, but by being objective – even when the truth stings a bit – you’ll be in the best position to ensure your house in the Cheadle area will sell quickly and for the highest possible price. For an honest conversation on how to present your property to get your home sold, call our Joe, Patrick or Maurice on 0161 428 3663, e-mail sales@mkiea.co.uk or pop into our busy High Street office in the centre of Cheadle village for an informal chat.