I have an amazing colonial to sell and it's just not budging! (Bath: for sale, real estate market)

[mirancs8]

So I came here to rant. My house has been on the market for some time now since end of May. I haven't any traffic only 7 but that is counting the open house people too. This is not good. So we are currently evaluating our pricing with the realtor and see what he things.

Our house is in a very desirable school district and neighborhood. We have 1 of a few of the colonial homes. It's a big house and it's perfect for a family.

I invite you to check my house out and if any of you know someone interested just pass this not to them.

I need this house to sell before I loose my mind. I'm wondering is this time of the year (september & October) get busier. I hope it picks up some pace. My house MLS #5093335

We have it marketed at $425000 but just so we can sell it quickly we are going to market it down to 399,000,

My house is a 4 BR 2.5 Bath house. When you see it you will then see all the pluses it has.


OK time for bed. I'm slipping off slowly..... good night!

[kyle19125]

Not to sound harsh, but for the price range you're marketing in, your interior is rather bland and lifeless. Check out MLS# 5069071, listed at $415,000. If you'd invest some money in painting alone, it would help considerably. You need to lose much of the overabundance of white. A couple of thousand dollars in cosmetic work would put you competitvely in the $425,000 range. Otherwise expect to settle eventually at $380,000 or so. Consult with your real estate agent about enlisting the services of a professional "stager". Additionally, you may want to reconsider the services of your current agent if none of these ideas occurred to them.

[rainrock]

Unfortunately Its a blood bath right now in the real estate market. Way way too many new houses were built which is killing the pre existing home market. Bad timing to be selling a house anywhere. The neighborhood I live in, usually houses would stay on the market less than a week. There are currently 4 houses for sale in my neighborhood that have been on the market for months. Unbelievable. Dont take it personal its just real bad timing.

Good luck nonetheless.

[mirancs8]

thank you both for your wonderful responses. I actually discussed this topic with my realtor the other day and he disagreed with me on the painting some rooms.

Also I did have a brokers open where at least 25 broker/agents came to give feedback. They all say it showed Excellent and the price needed to be adjusted. At that time we had it at $450.000 2 weeks ago we reduced it to $425,000. Now we are at the point that there is nothing we need to do with the house since it's in show room mode for any showings.

My husband and I are serious convinced that the price needs to fall into a slightly lower bracket like $399,900. You get a who different group of buyers. Even the few showings I had and the open house feedback they are loved the house and said it showed excellent. It's got to be the price.

So I have ants in my pants. I want to sell the sticky house so we can move. I feel so unsettled.

Thank you for your help!

[watamensch]

I am a Broker. My thoughts:

1. if it is not selling and it is top condition, lower the price. 7 showings in 5 months is pitiful and at this point you're lowering the price to where it should have been in May... you're chasing a ball downhill if you know what I mean.

If your broker is first talking to you about a reduction 5 months into the listing, maybe you need a new broker. I bet it's a 6 month contract and he/she will want the reduction and a renewal of the contract at the same time. Renew for three months only, or get a new broker.

2. Get new comps from your broker. What are current conditions?

3. Staging works! Do it!

[mirancs8]

Thank you Watamensch!

Appreciate the advice. I was thinking maybe because he's from another county that the realtors don't show the property on purpose because they want you to list locally. But of course my family members think I've lost my mind LOL!

Seriously we just lowered it to $399,000 after running the comps ($410,000-$465,000) at his office and we made it lower then the comps to make it competive. It's been a week and we had a realtor who came for a preview and that was it. I am requesting that he do open houses maybe that will get things going. I just can't wait to sell so we get move. It's tough having this long distance relationship with my husband waiting for the house to sell with 2 small kids.

We have staged and the house when it's showing has gotten "excellent show" from brokers and those buyers who came. So I know in that area we're good.

I think the media has much to do with it too. There making it much worse then it is. Really the rates are still very good and if you have good credit this is a great time to buy!

Thanks again!

[pennylove76]

Hello,

I looked at your listing on realtor.com & there was only 1 picture of your house on there and, IMO, it was not very flattering as the tree took up a large portion of the picture.. It did not make me want to know if here was anything better to be discovered inside. However, for purposes of answering your question I went ahead and found the website for your realtor's company and saw more pictures of your house that way.

When looking at the house I think it is a nice house. However, the pictures do not do much for the house. All of the pics seem so far away and for some reason the house looks a bit dated. I agree with Kyle19125 that everything seems a little bland. The pictures also make the kitchen look very narrow and there just seems to be so much white...white walls, white furniture, white carpet, white appliances, etc. Also, why would did your realtor take a picture with all of the toys spread all over the floor. I thought that was a big NO NO.

So, I am not a realtor or real estate professional. However, as a 2 time homeowner and potential future buyer, I have to say that based on the pictures I would probably not be excited enough to go see your house in person. You indicated that the buyers & brokers rated the house a excellant show, however, there has only been about 7 people to see the house. Well, maybe it is the marketing that is keeping more potential buyers from even looking at your home in person.

Also, I'm not trying to be hard on the reealtor, but I would question what type of realtor would take a picture of your basement with all of the toys on the floor. As a professiinal they have a duty to let you know that the basement would not present well. My realtor would probably have just moved them out of the way.

Good luck with everything.

[jenn6786]

I'm sorry, but your house looks old, messy and dated. I would have it staged and get new pictures. Why are there toys thrown on the floor in the basement photo? That doesn't say much for how you maintain your home. Decrease all of the clutter. Get rid of those chairs on your porch. They look cheap. Try some potted plants or flowers out front. Take down that canopy on the back porch, it makes the area look small. Sometimes you need a harsh reality because you don't see what potential buyers see.

[jenn6786]

OMG! At first I thought I was being harsh, so I reviewed the pictures again up close.
Dirty dishes in the sink? White fan on a nice vanity? Two hose reels and a kids bike on the back patio? And in the basement, the tv area looks trashed and is that a white trash bag thrown over a small table on the right of the picture??? No, I'm sticking with my original post. Get your act together or you will never sell that house.

[BeenAroundTheBlock]

True, it could use some color on the walls but I'd rather have those kind of walls than all the crazy colors people paint with. Last time I was looking at homes, it was such a turn off. I agree though the basement photo should not have the clutter and be more presentable.

I think it's going to be tough to sell your home just because it's 60 years old and a very dated style. There are so many deals out there now with the market the way it is now. Personally I would never buy a house that old.

Good luck though.