Why is My House Not Selling?

Nothing scares potential buyers off faster than significant structural problems, such as subsidence, widespread dampness, and roof bowing 

These kinds of issues are usually very expensive to fix – in some cases, they may even require a structural engineer. 

A potential buyer will then need to add the cost of the repairs to the house’s listing price, which could result in the house being out of their budget.

The property market is hotter at certain points of the year.

Generally, there are more prospective buyers over the spring and autumn due to the moderate climate and fewer commitments. Summer and winter are less popular times to move house due to the holidays and (in the case of winter) cold weather.

This isn’t to say there’s no chance of a property selling in August or January – but it might be more challenging or affect the price you can achieve.

Also, every local market is different, so it’s worth talking to local estate agents about what to expect.

If a property is located in an unsavoury area, it will likely be harder to sell.  Nobody wants to live just downwind of an unpleasant-smelling sewage plant, behind a noisy nightclub, or in a neighbourhood where the crime rate is skyrocketing.

Many sellers list the house with a very modest asking price to compensate for a poor location, but cheapness can’t make up for everything. 

Sometimes, you can take action to mitigate the impact of the location. For instance, in this case of noisy neighbours, you could invest in triple-glazing and high-quality sound insulation.

But other neighbourhood problems may have no real solution and prevent a property from selling.

Those selling a rental property with current tenants may face additional hurdles. 

If the current tenants are messy, destructive, anti-social, non-communicative, or refuse to pay rent, few people would be willing to be their landlord.

In an ideal world, you’d implement a proper vetting process before you rent out a property to prevent yourself from ending up in this situation. But if you already have difficult tenants, you can still take action.

You may be within your rights to give your problem tenants notice to vacate before you sell. If they refuse to leave, you may need to go through the legal process of evicting them to be able to attract buyers. An empty property is far more attractive.

The vegetation that surrounds your property may look beautiful, but some types may cause destruction. Japanese knotweed, for example, is a highly invasive species that has the potential to cause major damage to a property or building. It grows extremely fast and is very costly to remove.

There are other invasive species that may damage buildings too –  some of which, like buddleia or ivy, may have been originally introduced for decorative purposes. However, with time, they can take over, working their way into the mortar and causing or exacerbating cracks.

Overgrown trees can also be a problem. If they are positioned close to your home, their root networks may cause subsidence or other types of damage to walls and footings. 

There is also the risk of a tree being uprooted in a storm and causing damage to the house or surrounding property.

This can flag up as a potential cause for concern in a property survey and put off buyers.

Buyers tend to be very cautious about complications regarding property ownership titles and rights.

For example, absolute title is usually preferred over possessory title or qualified title as it means that the buyer will own the property outright.  Plus, the potential for legal contestation or questions regarding access rights is eliminated.

If you’re in the middle of a legal disagreement with a neighbour regarding boundaries or similar matters, you’re likely to face difficulties when selling. It’s best to resolve the matter before putting the property on the market to boost the chances of your house selling quickly.

An overpriced property is one of the main factors holding back a successful sale.

We can all be a bit biased when it comes to valuing how much our house is worth (whilst trying to sell as cheaply as possible).  However, one of the most common reasons house sales collapse is unrealistic pricing.

By asking too much for your house, you’re likely to severely narrow down your target market. There may be the “right buyer” out there who sees your property as their dream house and is willing to pay over the odds, but you might have to wait a long time for them to show up.

To be objective about how much your home is worth, take your opinion out of the equation and do online research by checking out the price of similar houses on online property portals.

Valuation professionals can also provide guidance about how much similar properties in your local area generally sell for. But bear in mind that some agents may try to go for a lower initial asking price to secure a quick property sale, which isn’t always in your best interest.

But even if you choose a lower price, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your house will actually sell for this amount. If there’s enough interest in your property, it may end up at the centre of a bidding war!

“Kerb appeal” describes how appealing a house’s exterior is. You might have the swankiest kitchen and most up-to-date specifications, but if the prospective buyer never makes it through the front door because the home lacks kerb appeal, all of that is for nothing.

Many potential buyers drive past a house to check it out before they even book a viewing, so pay attention to factors like:

• Garden
• Front door
• Window
• Tidiness (such as wheelie bins)
• Roof
• Driveway or path

No matter how great of a catch your house is, if few people are aware it’s on the market, the chance of a sale is drastically reduced.

In the online age, photos play a crucial role. They should be high quality with good lighting and focus on the most appealing rooms, with clutter out the way and flattering angles that make most of your rooms.

As the seller, most of this responsibility doesn’t fall on you. Generally, an estate agent will hire professional photographers – but you can do your part by preparing your house for its property photos by tidying away items like children’s toys.

If you’re not happy with the work of the photographer, it might be worth considering switching agents, which we’ll get to later.

Social media can be another great way to reach more buyers. An estate agent may provide this service, but if not, you can do it yourself by posting on sites like Facebook.

Even if your kerb appeal is flawless, what potential buyers see when they walk through the front door still matters.

Some buyers get excited about houses that are a blank canvas they can remodel to their desires. But many just want a home that will be easy to move into, with minimal hassle or work needed after buying. In some cases, this might be as simple as applying some fresh coats of paint and tidying up.

If you have very outdated styles, you may also want to renovate strategically important rooms, such as the kitchen or bathroom.

Freshening up or modernising a house can make all the difference!

Sometimes, it takes a bit of trial and error to find the right estate agent.

As mentioned already, some agents may choose the wrong asking price, while others fail to market your home sufficiently.

Whatever the case, switching agents can be a way to get the results you want.

Initial customer service is generally a positive sign that you’re working with a good estate agent. But make sure you ask plenty of questions when you switch estate agents to look for the right fit, such as qualifications, experience, processes, and past results.

Sometimes, there are factors affecting the property market that are beyond your control.

Your house might be a great catch, priced appropriately, and marketed perfectly – but if high mortgage rates are scaring away most buyers, you might still find it difficult to secure a quick sale.