How can I sell my house faster?

Question

I am not talking about getting rid of clutter, painting etc. I am talking about bringing in potential buyers to see the house. It really doesn't matter how uncluttered and sweet smelling it is if no one is coming to see it. I do have a realtor but things are slow enough to put me down for a nap and open houses are better for realtors than they are for sellers-I have found. So how can I increase traffic through my house when the realtor doesn't seem to be doing it?

Answer 1

If you really want to sell faster, you price it below market value and it should generate some buzz/traffic to your home.  Also, make sure you have attractive photos up on the MLS or whatever the home is listed. The curb appeal really helps as it's the first impression when viewing a home online.

Answer 2

Make sure you home isn't overpriced- you might want to price it  slightly under the market, verify that your agent actually has you in MLS and is offering to split the commission. Make sure that any and all repairs are complete and that your home has plenty of curb appeal. Also, the market is slow right now - you should be prepared to sit on your resale or wait it out if you can.  

Answer 3

Do the photos your agent has posted in the MLS (and thus the entire web) look appealing? Is the house updated, the landscaping groomed, paint muted, the house de-cluttered *in the photos*?  I have seen some pics that made me wonder if the sellers even realized that the agent’s photos would be the determining factor in whether a person would want to see their home. I learned from experience that photos could hide a multitude of sins, and that if a home photographed poorly, it’s probably worse in person.

Dow does your pricing compare to what other similar condition homes in your area have recently sold for?  At least in my neighborhood, it seems like some agents like to base their list prices off other agent’s list prices, instead of actual sales prices. So say the guy two streets over is listed at $155K, your agent suggests listing your house at $152K, not taking into account homes in your area are actually selling for $120-140K. In a time where buyer’s have lots of choices, they’re turned off by overpriced homes.

Answer 4

LOWER THE PRICE!

20K under the "market value" is not appealing to many buyers.  If it's not selling now and you aren't getting any lookers then lower it further.  Otherwise you will end up lowering it later and still not getting any interest.  

That's what you call "chasing the market down".

Sorry, it's not about candles and clutter.  Market value is overpriced and buyers know it now.  

Answer 5

If you have a signed contract with your realtor, are you able to sell the house on your own if you find buyers on your own?  If you are, you can try placing an ad in Craigslist.  Foxtons is another good FSBO (For Sale By Owner) website.  You might include some incentives for buyers...like new appliances.  Don't think of it as shelling out more money...if you sell it on your own, you save on the realtor's fee so you can lower your selling price to make up for the extra perks you are willing to throw in.