Trying to sell our home (for sale by owner, houses, neighborhood)

[IvyTeach]

We live in Highland Creek...a GREAT community, but we are having such a hard time selling our house due to all the new construction. We are also one of the larger homes...we have about 3500 sq.ft. We have tried several different realtors and now we are just using "for sale by owner". We have been trying to sell since the spring...can anyone give us any suggestions? Anyone else having this problem? We are listed on Craig's List also.

[groove1]

Well, I hate to say this, but your price is probably too high. My dad sold his house in that area last month. It was about 2000 sq feet and in "like new" condition, though it wasn't in the price range as yours. He had 3 offers on it within 3 days of listing it, took one of the offers (at asking price of 159k) and closed a few weeks later. Usually Christmas isn't a good time to sell a house though. Just so you know, he used Hendrix properties to sell it.

[ultraviolet*]

Have you tried getting feedback from the people who have come to see it? We just recently bought our home, and I know a couple of seller's agents called up our buyer's agent to ask for feedback on why we weren't interested in that house, and we were able to give them very clear reasons.

Maybe your house has something that isn't showing well. I know there were some houses we saw that had way too much clutter for us to consider what it would look like when we bought it and put our stuff in it. Or we realized that we would have to put a lot of work right away into some of them. Even just a fresh coat of paint would have helped sway the decision more favorably.

I do wish you luck though. That's got to be really frustrating...

[the 7 oh 4]

It is much easier to go through a realtor. More exposure, everything. YES you have to pay them their commission (and they deserve it) but I bet you could sell much faster.

You are right though, alot of new construction in the area always makes it harder to sell too.

GOOD LUCK & Happy HOLIDAYS!

[carolinagirrrrrrrls]

I totally feel your pain. We have been trying to sell since spring, too. I really think our problem was being overpriced back when we first listed. We are by far the best deal in our neighborhood now, but we missed that first wave of really interested buyers because of our realtor's inexperience... We are with a different realtor now, but may try FSBO when this contract expires in Feb. I really think we (you and I) will sell in the spring. I'm looking forward to reading other's takes on this thread. Thanks for posting it and good luck!

[IvyTeach]

Thank you for the advice. We are going to wait until the spring and hopefully price it better this time. We had the same problem as "carolinagirrrrrls" in that the realtor we had in this spring didn't price it right then and we missed quite a few potential buyers. Maybe this spring will be better? I keep hearing good things about Allen Tate.

[groove1]

Originally Posted by IvyTeach

Thank you for the advice. We are going to wait until the spring and hopefully price it better this time. We had the same problem as "carolinagirrrrrls" in that the realtor we had in this spring didn't price it right then and we missed quite a few potential buyers. Maybe this spring will be better? I keep hearing good things about Allen Tate.

Not many people will say too many bad things about them. Good reputable, local, well-established company.

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by IvyTeach

Thank you for the advice. We are going to wait until the spring and hopefully price it better this time. We had the same problem as "carolinagirrrrrls" in that the realtor we had in this spring didn't price it right then and we missed quite a few potential buyers. Maybe this spring will be better? I keep hearing good things about Allen Tate.

Don't feel bad. You are the norm unfortunately. Contrary to what the media tells you about this market, most people in this area have had a difficult time selling.


To answer your question. IMO its more important to focus on a quality realtor vs. focusing on the company.

At a minimum, interview 3 or 4. Are they aggressive? How well do they negotiate? Do they give you blunt, honest feedback? Have they been through market conditions like this before? Do they come highly recommended? Are they effective in taking the "emotion" out of the process like many sellers have a hard time doing?

This is not easy. All realtors are DEFINITELY not alike.

This is an extremely important decision because there will be more inventory coming on once the spring rolls around. Most people think the spring will be better, but EVERY seller feels that way (that's why there's a ton more inventory). We definitely haven't hit the bottom yet so you have to prepare for the worst unfortunately.

If you haven't started the process, start NOW.


good luck