Why Can Selling a House Be Difficult?

When properties are selling quickly all around you, it’s only natural to wonder why yours has been languishing on the market for months. There is no single reason why your property isn’t selling while others are, but it might have something to do with some of the following points. 

You’re Using the Wrong Sales Method

When selling a house in Utah, you have many different sales methods at your disposal, but that doesn’t mean all of them are right for you. Your property may be sitting on the market for far longer than you anticipated because you’ve chosen a sales method that may not be effective for your unique property. 

There are three to choose from: realtor, professional property purchasers, and for sale by owner (FSBO). Each method has its pros and cons, and it can be worth weighing these options before deciding which one is going to be the most effective for you. 

Selling Through a Realtor

When you sell through a realtor, you sometimes face hefty commissions that may be up to 6% of the purchase price. Buyers can also include demands in the sales and purchase agreement, which may mean you need to invest heavily in upgrades or repairs just to close the deal with a particular buyer. 

Selling through a real estate agent can also often require you to clean your property for open homes and walk-throughs that can happen several times per week.

For Sale By Owner

Selling your house yourself can seem like an excellent idea at first. You get to retain the several thousand dollars in commission payments you would have needed to give to a realtor, and you can control when and who visits your home. 

However, you may lack a realtor’s marketing and advertising tools, which may mean your property sits on the market for longer than you expected. 

Selling to a Professional Property Purchaser

Professional property buyers make a living by buying properties, renovating them, and on-selling them. They purchase them as-is, pay cash in as little as seven days, and cover closing costs. 

This underrated property selling option can see any number of homeowners free of their property burdens within a matter of days rather than weeks or months. 

The Price Is Too High

There’s no denying that the housing market has been growing at an astronomical rate, but record-high prices don’t mean there’s no risk of overpricing your property when you put it up for sale. Your property’s value is still representative of its location, quality, size, and features, and if these don’t stack up, prospective purchasers may not be eager to pay your asking price. 

It Has Costly Problems

The unfortunate reality is that properties with costly problems can be less desirable than those with everything already taken care of. Some buyers aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, but equally as many may just want to move into a home that they can enjoy as-is without any problems. 

Among the costliest issues are those relating to the home’s structure, its roof, plumbing, and wiring. When you’re interested in selling your home, you have important decisions to make regarding any of these potentially expensive issues. 

You may decide to sell your property as-is, which is convenient and easy to do with professional buyers who purchase such homes for cash, or make the necessary repairs to achieve a higher sale price. 

It’s important to note that most of those problems listed above can cost thousands of dollars to rectify, and there are no guarantees that you’ll see a positive return on your investment. 

It Has Been Damaged

Dealing with extensive property damage can be challenging. You may not have insurance to cover the costs associated with fire, storm damage, and flood damage, or you simply don’t want the long, drawn-out process of repairs. 

In that case, selling your damaged property may seem like the best option. However, while most buyers can handle wear and tear, significant damage can be off-putting for many people, causing your property to sit on the market for a long time.

 You may then have just a few options at your disposal, including listing for a meager price, selling to a professional buyer, or biding your time on the public market. 

The House Is Cluttered

Most eager buyers can look past clutter in a home to see its potential, but that doesn’t mean everyone can. You may find that a cluttered home listed through a realtor sits on the market longer than a beautifully staged one in the same selling environment. 

However, clearing that clutter may be problematic when you’ve been living on your property for several years. You may have nowhere to store it where prospective purchasers won’t see it, or the clutter might belong to a tenant or family member where you have few rights regarding its removal. 

There is hope for the right buyer to come along and look past the crowded rooms, but you also have the option of selling your home as-is privately. 

It Has Environmental Issues

Environmental issues like mold can be a cause for concern. Black mold is known to be harmful to our health, which means people interested in moving into your home may put themselves at risk. 

Moisture is the leading cause of mold, which may be present due to poor ventilation, a water leak, a lack of maintenance, flooding, humidity, among other reasons. Mold remediation can be costly, with the most effective elimination option often involving removing all soft and porous materials, including drywall. 

When you aren’t in a position to fund these significant renovations, putting your home on the market can seem like the best option. However, you have to find a seller who’s willing to put the time and effort into rectifying the problem. Often, such buyers can be those who buy and sell houses for a living. 

Some houses sell quickly, while others languish on the market for months. You might be surprised at how some of these issues above may be holding you back from a fast, easy, and stress-free sale process.