a wildflower garden that butterflies and hummingbird frequent. Wildlife attraction can be a deal closer for nature lovers. Breathtaking sunsets: Who doesn’t love an unobstructed view of a sunset? And if your patio faces west, make sure you schedule the show around sundown and have a glass of lemonade waiting on a patio table so the potential buyer can soak up the sunset. Stone patios: If your neighbors have wood decks, your flagstone patio will stand out. Fenced-in backyard: If a buyer has kids or pets, a fenced-in backyard can be a deal-maker. Fences are expensive. And if your home has one—especially a lovely wood fence—make sure you point that out. Failing to accentuate the uniqueness of a home is just one reason a house doesn’t sell quickly … or at all. Here are other deal killers.
1. PRICING TOO HIGH
Experts say the #1 reason that listings go stale and eventually don’t sell is that owners price the property too high. Maybe fond memories make sellers think their house is worth more than the market will sustain; maybe sellers hope a big fish will bite at a high price, and if one doesn’t, they can always lower it.
Wrong!
Buyers aren’t idiots, and when big money is involved, they do their homework. Overpricing signals that a seller isn’t serious, or that he’s taking a flier and will eventually get real and lower the price. The result is a property that languishes on the market without an offer or sale. The longer a home stays on the market, the more a potential buyer wonders, “What’s wrong with this house?”
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