You may not be able to figure out why your house is not selling but it may be obvious to others folks especially potential buyers. Whether the home is viewed virtually or live, the reasons may hurt initially but knowledge is power. It is best to showcase the home the right way from the beginning but we all deserve second chances, even our homes.

The question was put out on Facebook and it certainly created a lively online discussion. Here is feedback from Realtors, friends, family, sellers, buyers and future buyers.

Roll up your sleeves!

Lousy photos: The first walk through is online via the listing photos. Poor quality, messy rooms are not going to drive buyers in to view it live. Linda Nilon says, “I have been house hunting for months but I didn’t even want to see a home if it had terrible listing pictures with personal items everywhere: dark curtains drawn shut, dark rooms, dirty counter tops. I was so turned off by the pictures that I didn’t even want to see the house in person which would only be worse.”

Clutter: Clutter eats equity. Rooms appear smaller and unappealing.

Odors: Whether it is a cigarette or cigar smoke, cats, dogs or cleanliness issues, bad smells are a huge turnoff. Masking it with another scent creates a noxious fume, which can turn stomachs. The best scent for your house is clean.

Wallpaper: It dates a house and is taste specific. Wallpaper = Removal = Work.

Overpriced: No amount of staging will help sell an overpriced home.

Bad energy: This is an intangible thing that cannot be seen but can be felt. The people living in the home generate the energy of it. There are some homes that make all who enter feel welcomed and comfortable. Then there is the exact opposite.

Bad attitude/apathy: Seller not making an effort for buyers

Front Door: This is the proper way to show a home. Back door, side door, garage is not a good first impression.

Missing the target market: Karen Otto of Home Star Staging in Dallas says, “Sellers are usually no longer the same target demographic of buyers of homes in their neighborhood. Some lose touch with what appeals to the new pool of prospective buyers. They think staging is about them. It’s not. It’s for the buyer.”

Seller not ready to let go of their home: This is a probably the toughest reason of all. The seller is too emotionally attached to the home and sabotages the sale by not following the advice of the professional, whether it is the Realtor or the Stager.

Not Following the advice of the expert: Preparing and staging can help it sell quicker.

Following the advice of the expert: Do NOT Remodel your home to sell. Do it for you to enjoy while living in it. There are cost effective things to do to refresh your home. Replacing countertops with granite in a dated kitchen or bath is not one of them. I have saved my clients from overspending by not over-prepping and their house still sold.

Pip Klein of The Green Team Home Selling System in Warwick sums it up best, “Factor in the emotional equation and ask yourself – do you want to SELL or do you want to STAY? Then rev up and do those great suggestions and BE emotionally ready to let go of the home!”