Why can't I sell my Suwanee home? (Lawrenceville, Richland: hardwood floors, sales)

[cmills]

It's beautiful.

Have you had an open house? I'm trying to sell a home now (2 months listed) and my major problem is simply inventory. There's too much. People don't have to compromise on their wants.

[brookdaleresident]

Gorgeous home! seems to be priced right. Good luck!

[IntownHomes247]

How is your current agent marketing the property? The virtual tour is okay (not great, but okay). Does she have showcase listings on realtor.com (that's the enhanced listing that allows you to have up to 25 photos plus additional description, highlighted headlines, and priority placement in search results)?

I've never heard of that brokerage. Does the brokerage have a significant web presence and does the agent promote your listing both on the brokerage web site and her own?

Is it showcased on ajchomefinder.com? Is information about your listing syndicated on multiple real estate web sites?

Is the listing fully tricked out on GaMLS and FMLS with multiple pics and accompanying written descriptions?

I have no idea if buyers looking in Suwanee are as internet-focused as intown buyers, but if they are then it's extremely important to get adequate breadth and depth of coverage of the listing everywhere you can online.

The 2 most important elements (in my humble opinion) of a strong marketing campaign are:

1. Killer MLS listing (with as many high quality photos as allowed) -- most buyers still have agents and this is how agents find homes

2. Showcase listing on Realtor.com (completely customized including 25 photos, detailed description of the property, and a link to a great virtual tour)

There's a lot to add to those 2 key pieces, but if those aren't done correctly the the vast majority of potential buyers will never even consider your property because they won't even look at the listing.

[atlantagreg30127]

Well, after looking at the pics, there's only a couple of things I maybe could find because overall it's a nice home.

The back yard is ok, but at least from pics it looks like it's a slight slope and not very large. If people buy a large home most likely they have kids/pets, and if they're moving to the burbs with those kids and pets they usually want a BIG and fully fenced-in back yard for them all to play in. I live in Powder Springs. Some of the older homes in my neighborhood have 1/2 acre back yards. Go up the street to a newer subdivision and the entire lots are maybe 1/4 acre or so - they're taking twice as long to sell even though they're newer than the older homes around me because people are wanting space not only for kids and pets, but also sometimes pools, larger decks or patio spaces, etc.

Also, does the basement have a bathroom? If it does, you're set 'cause that allows it to be used as guest quarters, but if it does not have a basement, that's a turn off for buyers.

[cool_mommy]

As the other posters have mentioned there are key elements that may turn off a buyer that you wouldn't even think of. The only way to find out what is turning the buyer's off is from feedback. I would NOT accept the response from your agent that "they can't get feedback from the agent's showing the home". When I was an agent I was a thorn in the other agent's side. I didn't stop calling until I had some kind of feedback, it didn't matter if it was positive, negative or minimal, I wanted to know what the potential buyer's thought of the home. IMO your agent is doing your listing an injustice if they don't get feedback. It is there job.

When we recently sold our home, we did it on our own. I didn't have my license anymore but had the experience. I made sure that I gained feedback from every person who came through my home via a phone call, email or their realtor (if they had one). I gained some very interesting perspectives that I would have never considered about my home. Some were pretty silly to me but in this market you have to take everthing into consideration.

Best of luck to you!

[psi2007]

Make sure you show your house as if it were a model home.
Get it staged for sale. (No toys out, no family pictures, no nick nacks)
Watch Design to Sell on HGTV

Offer a higher commission (more realtors will bring their clients)


If you've had 20 showings there must be something that is standing in the way of an offer. Are you there when the house is shown? Don't be.

Ask your realtor to tell you point blank what the problem is. Yeah you can lower the price but if you had 20 viewers the price must've been attractive enough for them to come. Price reduction is fine but in this market it can get ridiculous. Tell your realtor you want an offer or else. Look at the pictures of your house on the multiple listing service that the realtors use. There should be at least 8 pictures of your house showing the exterior and the interior. The pictures should look good enough to go into a magazine. No junk. No clutter. Buyers and realtors pass by houses that don't show the interior or that are cluttered.

Location, condition and price are the main reasons houses don't sell.
Is your location bad? (Suwanee is close to work for some people. Find out who they are. Avon has a plant or headquarters office up there right? )

Condition. Get a pre-sale inspection done. Fix the problems and write them down to put with the inspection report. Have it available for buyers.

Price. Your realtor can tell you what homes like yours have sold for in your area in the past 2 months. Make sure you are being realistic. Buyers know what a good price is. Are there foreclosed homes being sold on your street? That will bring your price down.

You can offer anything to bring buyers. Cruise for two, tickets to Vegas etc.
In this market you want them to pick your house because it was a better deal.
Think of reasons you bought your house. Tell your realtor to make sure buyers know all the good things about living in that house. (Great neighborhood, close to shopping, close to ???, convenience to interstate)
What is good about your floorplan, your yard, your bedroom or master bath
ambiance?

Some have buried a statue of St Joseph (upside down facing forward in the front yard next to the for sale sign.) Check into it.

[MyHomeIsInOcala]

Add some color to your home. It is beautiful, but very generic (black and white).

I was sub contracting on MANY homes in Gwinnette, Hall and adjoining counties in the late 90's, and your home is a typical sub-d two story on a basement with brick overlay front, similar to those off of Hamilton Mill Rd. (nicely constructed homes in that area) Is, this a Jenkins or Forest Homes built house?

Your agent should have had More Pictures.... I see only 6, a good close-in picture of the front door will show invitation. A shot from a second floor showing the neighborhood is always a nice addition too.


Also, I worked as a Realtor for many years, I never let the commission sway me to bring more buyers, that is sheer GREED on an agent's part... I NEVER had trouble getting feed-back.

Have you gone on a tour of all the homes in that area that are for sale and have similar features? Look at all the competition, even those with 1 less bedroom and bath... they may have a bonus room that a buyer would envision as a bedroom. Get flyers from all the homes you visit. Ask for an updated CMA as well as a current list of all the homes sold like yours AND those sold recently with in 10% of your current asking price.

How is your commission structured? Is it a flat commission or is it graduated?

In any case.... Good luck!

PS: OH... MORE pictures on the MLS and Realtor.com would not hurt!!!

[Merin]

The house is great. I agree with the staging idea, people have come to see it so there must be something preventing them from making offers.

[brookdaleresident]

Suwanee has a lot of nice homes on the market. That doesn't help. btw, the statue goes in the backyard, facing the house Hang in there Lizzy!

[spacelord75]

Originally Posted by brookdaleresident

Suwanee has a lot of nice homes on the market. That doesn't help. btw, the statue goes in the backyard, facing the house Hang in there Lizzy!

It can actually go either way - if in the backyard, then yes, facing the house, but if you put it in the front yard it needs to be facing the street. In both cases he needs to be upside down.