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10 Reasons why your house is not selling and how to fix them

Despite hopes your home would sell quickly, is it a few months down the line and your home is still languishing on the market? We take a look at the common reasons a house is not selling – and how to fix them to get that all important sale.

Angela Kerr Director, Editor

Selling a home can be tricky particularly in the current climate. But there are steps you can take to improve your chances of a successful sale. If you have had problems finding a buyer for your house, then take time to consider the following reasons why your house is not selling and what to do about them.

1. Your home lacks kerb appeal

Your house may not be selling because it lacks kerb appeal. Buyers make up their minds about a house within minutes. If the outside of your home isn’t looking its best, you could be losing out on potential buyers. Try to look at your property from the point of view of a prospective buyer – everyone wants a home they can be proud of.

How to fix it

First impressions are so important so make sure that the garden is tidy, wheelie-bins are in a side passage if possible, or somewhere where they are not jarringly obvious, and make the effort to clean doors and windows.

According to our recent Homeowners Survey, more than 68% of homeowners say kerb appeal was important in their choice of home. The most important factors were windows being in good condition, a well maintained roof and a tidy front garden and driveway/path.

2. The property looks tired or needs staging

Your house may not be selling because buyers are having difficulty looking beyond the existing decor or wear and tear to get excited by the property and see themselves living in it. Or, maybe you are selling an empty property and it is leaving buyers feeling cold.

How to fix it

In either case, it is worth getting advice from our partners, Flyp, who offer a transformation service if the property needs any enhancements or staging to help it sell. If you sign up with the company and use its ‘Staging to Sell’ service, the company’s tradespeople will make improvements to your property at no cost to you in a bid to increase its value and help it sell faster.

For more home staging tips, see our advice guide.

3. The property feels cluttered

Your house may not be selling because buyers are having difficulty seeing themselves living in your home. Removing unnecessary clutter can make it look bigger and help a buyer imagine their own things in the space. Decluttering isn’t just about hiding away nic-nacs and clearing surfaces – though that is important. If the garden is stacked full of old children’s toys, rusty trampolines and rotting playhouses, or the spare room is crammed high with old furniture and that old running machine you never use, it’s time to clear them out.

How to fix it

Your council may be able to clear a few bulky things for free. Alternatively our household rubbish removal partners at LoveJunk. Their marketplace finds your cheapest available licensed waste collector or reuser in seconds. Over 98% of waste materials is reused or recycled and prices are up to 50% cheaper than if you contact collectors direct

Also, make sure your home is clean, tidy and ideally pet and child free. We know children and pets are usually something you want to showcase but they can be off-putting for potential buyers trying to picture themselves living in your home. Try to minimise the noise and space they take up by confining them to one area – it’s what TV rooms and gardens were made for!  See how to make your home more saleable and valuable.

4. The photos don’t do it justice

Most buyers will start their property search online so the first glimpse they’ll get of your home will be via photos. Given the wealth of choice offered by most property websites, it is easy for people to pass over pictures which look unattractive or don’t have the ‘wow’ factor. Some estate agents use professional photographers, while others have been taking photos so long they know what items of furniture to shift and when the wide angle lense is needed. But some agents will be better than others.

How to fix it

If you’re photos don’t come up to scratch you shouldn’t accept them. You are after all paying the agent to provide these as part of their marketing services. Ask to approve any pictures before they are posted online.

5. The asking price is wrong

Getting the price of a property right can make all the difference to the prospects of a sale. The best way to ensure you have the asking price right is by combining online research with advice from at least three estate agent valuations. Bear in mind that some agents will overestimate the initial value of a property as a means of incentivising prospective clients. Other agents may price your house low for a quick sale so they can earn their commission quickly.

How to fix it

To get the asking price right, firstly do your research including finding out the prices similar properties have sold for nearby. Find more information in our guide What price should I sell my house for?

And make sure you choose the best estate agent. With our Best Estate Agent Finder tool you can compare agents in your area to find estate agents that are selling properties fastest and regularly achieving asking price.

6. The estate agent isn’t doing a good job

Many homeowners end up feeling that their estate agent is not doing enough to sell their home. You may find there’s a flurry of interest at the outset but then weeks or even months go by without hearing from them.

How to fix it

• Ask your estate agent what else they could be doing to market your property. It’s important to have regular conversations. They should be in touch with feedback on viewings and progress. If not, get on to them. It’s important that they re-assure you that they are doing all they can to actively market your property. Here’s what you should expect an estate agent to do.

• If you need more reassurance, it may also be worth doing some investigative work. Try asking a friend or family member to pose as a prospective buyer in order to gauge the level of service that they receive and to confirm that the person that manages the viewings is knowledgeable and competent.
• Consider changing agent: If you aren’t being listened to or have lost faith, give notice to terminate your estate agent contracts and move to another estate agent. Use our best estate agent finder to identify the best performing agent in your local area. But if you are switching agents, see our guide on estate agent contracts and what to watch for.  

With our Best Estate Agent Finder tool you can compare agents in your area to find estate agents that are selling properties fastest and regularly achieving asking price.

7. Current market conditions

The housing market can be influenced by seasonal trends, local demand and economic factors, making it harder to sell at certain times.

How to fix it

Unfortunately, you can’t fix market conditions – but you can get yourself better informed so that you’re in the best position to make decisions about selling your house. Stay up to date on what’s happening nationally and regionally with house prices in our monthly House Price Index, and see what’s predicted to happen next with our House price predictions guide and Mortgage rate predictions guide.

8. Your house needs repairs

Most buyers expect to do some work to a house after buying it (unless you’re buying a new build home) but if your property has problems like damp or subsidence it could be putting buyers off.

How to fix it

It’s advisable to deal with any problems that may get flagged up in a survey before putting your home on the market rather than waiting for a buyer to find out about them when they get a bad house survey report. To find out more on what you should get fixed before putting your house on the market – and when you don’t need to bother – read our guide What not to fix when selling a house.

9. Lack of flexibility

Between work and home commitments it can be tricky to fit in viewings, especially if requests come last minute or the potential buyers can only come at a time that’s inconvenient for you. But if you can’t accommodate a buyer – you might be turning away the person who would end up buying your house.

How to fix it

Put simply, if you want to sell your house, make sure you accommodate every viewing you can. Tidying the house in advance might seem like a pain, but by putting in the extra effort you’ll hopefully sell sooner.

10. Location

If buyers have a negative perception of the area they may be put off, even if the house itself is perfect. This is a difficult issue to navigate but it’s not insurmountable.

How to fix it

You can’t change the location but you can highlight its selling points. Your estate agent should have good local knowledge but as you live there, you’re best placed to know what these are. Obviously, if it’s in a catchment area for a good school, that will be attractive to parents. But convenient transport links, good local restaurants and cafes and parks are all selling points. So make sure your estate agent is up to speed.

With our Best Estate Agent Finder tool you can compare agents in your area to find estate agents that are selling properties fastest and regularly achieving asking price.

How long is too long when selling a house?

If you were hoping your property would be snapped up almost as soon as it hit the market anything more than a few days may seem too long to you! But according to the experts two months is about as long as you should wait before considering lowering the price or switching agent. According to speed of sale data from our Best Estate Agent Finder tool, the average time to sell (sale subject to contract) is 64 days.

What are my options if my house isn’t selling?

If your house is not selling after a few months, you could look to:

• Reduce the asking price – You may need to consider lowering the asking price in order to get a sale.
• You may consider a multi-agency agreement – see our guide on Using multiple agency agreements: does it help?
• See if improvements or staging could increase your home’s value and secure a buyer. With our partner, Flyp’s, ‘Staging to Sell’ service, they make improvements at no cost to you to make your property more attractive to buyers and get your property sold.
• Consider selling your house for cash through a company offering an instant house purchase. Make sure they are members of the NAPB. Although expect to sell for much lower than market value. For more info, read our guide on quick sale firms and what to watch.