Anyone else having a hard time selling their house? (Phoenix: for sale, work)

[micrguy]

Just curious to see if anyone else is having a hard time selling their house or if my agent is blowing smoke about the market right now. I have had my house for sale for six months and have not received one offer and have only had 4-5 people look at the house. It's in Phoenix over by Metro Center in a decent neighborhood and it's priced the same if not lower than everything else in the neighborhood. Should I blame the market or my realtor?

[HX_Guy]

It's really the market that is to blame right now. Too many houses for sale...and a lot of buyers are waiting it out thinking prices will drop some.

[Traal]

I have buyers for mine, out in east Mesa. I had to drop the price below what I thought it was worth before anyone came to look at it. And the buyers are getting it for even less. Which is still more than others of the same model are selling for in my neighborhood.

I think it also helped that it isn't one of the bigger, more expensive homes in the Phoenix area. The valley may still be overpriced.

[sablebaby]

It's the market. There's a house down the street from me that has been on the market for a year now. It's a nice home and good price.

[moose168]

Right now I'm trying to get my mother's house fixed up for selling so she can move with me.
We've tried Home Cheapo, Lowe's, handyman services, and a few contractors. None of them seem to be able to make the necessary repairs to our satisfaction. It is an older home that needs a lot of fixing up - new tile, new doors, facia-board replacement, and a few other things. I can't believe how many idiots there are in the carpentry business here who don't seem to know how to do basic repairs! Even the better ones hire day laborers with questionable backgrounds.
If anybody can drop a few names of some good contractors or companies that are efficient, professional, and have a good reputation for door installation, and other repairs I'll go for it.
Thanks.

[sheena]

I sold my house in Feb it was on the market for about 2 months we had plenty of buyers looking. It was in Gilbert and priced right but we gave 8,000 in closing cost. I consider myself lucky I did think the market would bounce back in the Spring but it doesn't look like it.

[AZ_singlemother]

It depends on what you consider "priced right". I have yet to see what you are offering. Have to remember that values are overpriced due to speculative damage done. Homes appreciated a lot more than salaries. Not to mention gas prices are outragious. Normal Phoenicians cannot afford to purchase a home at the market value today.

Speculators who did purchase rapidly before are gone as Arizona is no longer affordable to flip for quick profits.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

It depends on what you consider "priced right". I have yet to see what you are offering. Have to remember that values are overpriced due to speculative damage done. Homes appreciated a lot more than salaries. Not to mention gas prices are outragious. Normal Phoenicians cannot afford to purchase a home at the market value today.

Speculators who did purchase rapidly before are gone as Arizona is no longer affordable to flip for quick profits.

It was over priced if you ask me. I bought it for 145,000 in 2002. and sold it for 130,000 more. I mean priced right meaning not pricing it like it was priced a yr ago at 40,000 more. Priced right meaning lower than the neighborhood competition. Priced right meaning extra incentives to entice a buyer. It worked I sold it.

[arizonanative]

It is the market a bit, the area you live in, the price and the condition of the home. I'm a realtor and my homes that are priced below the competition sell, others that are inflated sit and homeowners get frustrated.

Is your home in show condition? All clutter removed? It really has to be the best one in the neighborhood for the best price to compete. Some areas are competing with the new home builders and that is killing the resale market. It's almost impossible to compete with a new home that has never been lived in, with incredible incentives and closing costs paid for and then some.

Be sure you are priced right and the home shows well. What feedback is your agent getting from the realtors who have shown it? You could also put it on a realtor tour for some improvements as well. Figure out who your "target market" is and start some creative marketing ideas to them. Just some thoughts.

Best of luck.

[HX_Guy]

Excellent point on "show condition" arizonanative.

I can't even remember how many homes I've walked into and the places looked awful...dirty dishes, unmade beds, kids' toys everywhere, clutter upon clutter.

These homes that are for sale need to be as clean as possible. People coming to see them need to be impressed and see themselves living there, not be disgusted and wonder what the place would look like if it's clean...especially with all the other houses competing.

Have you been inside some new model homes? That's a good place to get ideas of how a house that is up for sale should look.