Quick Fixes for Las Vegas Homes that Refuse to Sell
The real estate market is notoriously volatile, yet even in periods of high supply, savvy sellers are able to attract a buyer for their Las Vegas homes, while in periods of low supply, rookie mistakes can make a house seem impossible to get rid of.
Consider the real estate market like the weather on a day when you have to get errands done. Focusing on the weather is a waste of time and energy because you have no control over it. If it’s sunny, you can say a quick “hooray!” If it’s rainy, you can give an even quicker, “aw man!” Then, focus on the task at hand and go, go, go.
Here are some quick fixes that can help you accomplish the sale of a house that has been sitting on the market for too long:
- Check Your Price
Las Vegas homeowners often have a different idea of their house’s value than does the general home buying public. The reality is that a house is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay.
In order to see if you have fallen victim to an inflated sense of your house’s value, try comparing your asking price to similar houses on the market or talking to your real estate agent. Then, adjust your price accordingly.
- Advertise More (and Better!)
It’s possible that no one knows your house is for sale. The buyers of today are more likely to browse online for houses than to cruise the streets, eyes peeled for “for sale” signs. Listing your house online is a powerful way to reach buyers. You can also contact local newspapers or home listing magazines to advertise your house.
No matter where you advertise, make sure that you provide a quality description of your house and plenty of photos. Be sure to emphasize the things you love about your house – buyers might love them too!
- Do Some Repairs
If buyers are coming to view your house but are not pursuing a purchase after they see it, your house might have some big issues that are turning buyers off. Sagging roofs, cracked walls, or uneven foundations are all obvious culprits, but you should also take a look for more insidious character flaws. Maybe a bright orange bedroom, that you love, is turning your prospective buyers’ stomachs, or maybe the paneling, which you have learned to overlook in your dining room, is hurting their eyes.
If you notice a flaw in your house but don’t want to invest in a repair, you might try negotiating a lower price or closing credit with buyers.
- Clean and De-Clutter
When a buyer enters a house, they instantly begin trying to visualize their life there. Do your best to provide a blank canvas for them to do so.
Shoes around doors, dirty dishes, family photos, toys, children’s artwork, souvenir shot glass collections, and the like are all part of your life in your house. Remove this debris, and buyers will be more able to imagine their own life.
- Pull Out All the Stops at Your Next Open House
Buying a house is a huge decision. Buyers are more willing to take that leap if they fall in love with the house the first time they see it.
At your next open house, make sure to romance your buyers. Perfume the rooms with candles. Serve refreshments. Open curtains to welcome natural sunlight into your house, and, if the weather is nice, open windows to let in a breeze.
- Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal
Many buyers perform “drive -bys” of Las Vegas homes that catch their interest. If you see cars slowly approaching your house, then quickly speeding up and zooming into the distance, you might need to re-evaluate your curb appeal.
Simple improvements like spreading mulch in flower beds, touching up paint, sweeping the walkway, and putting away yard toys can have a big impact on your house’s ability to slow cars down rather than chase them away.
Selling your house is completely within your power. A little effort can go a long way towards attracting, wowing, and finally closing the deal with a buyer. Then, you’ll be on your way to a new home sweet home in no time!