Selling a property can often seem like a hit and miss proposition in today's real estate market. If you find you are missing a lot, you need to figure out why.

The real estate market is the ultimate roller coaster ride for Buyers and Sellers.  For Buyers, it is all downhill until they finally find the home that fits their needs and desires.  Sometimes it seems like it will never happen and then suddenly they find it.  With Sellers, the process works the other way.  It is all uphill until the magic moment happens.  A Seller has to deal with lookie loos and other stragglers that may create the impression there are no serious Buyers out there.  In worse case scenarios, you might get no interest at all.  If you are going through this state as a Seller, you need to consider why your home won't sell.

Most homes fail to sell for three primary reasons –

• price,
• appearance and
• exposure.

Let's take a closer look.

The recent Sellers' market is over.  You need to understand and accept this.  You can no longer just list your home at any old price and get an offer.  The demand simply isn't there anymore.  You need to go back to traditional approaches, which means sizing up the market in your neighbourhood.  What are other homes selling for?  How does your home measure up to them?  Try to be objective when doing this analysis and defining the correct listing price for your home.  If you can't stomach selling for the lower price, pull the property from the market and sit on it until things improve.

Our second reason is appearance.  Appearance refers to curb appeal and how your home shows.  This is a fairly simple thing to fix.  First, get the yard and landscaping in shape.  Second, make sure your home is spic and span when people come to see it.  Clean, clean and then clean some more!  Remove almost ALL personal belongings from shelves, fridges, etc.  Try to achieve a “show home” appearance.  For a helpful hint, bake something that smells delicious when prospective buyers are coming over.  Trust me, it helps.

With exposure, we are referring to your marketing.  Build it and they will come may have worked in a movie, but it does not in real estate.  Go with a REALTOR that has an aggressive and unique marketing campaign.  Make sure it is in MLS.  List it online.  Tell everyone and anyone you are selling.  Carry Mini Brochures with you so you can hand them out if anyone shows interest.  The property is no longer your home.  It is a product to be sold.  Market it as such.

While we are in the middle of a slower real estate market, it does not mean sales are not occurring. If you are not having any luck, make some by addressing the three issues above.

Disclosure:  This report is not intended to solicit properties currently under contract with another REALTOR.