What to do when your house won't sell

Refresh the look

Putting in the effort to furnish, style and get your home ready to sell can be the difference between a quick sale and months of waiting with no offers. A fresh coat of paint, some rented furniture or even a simple renovation such as new cupboard doors in your kitchen can make all the difference.

Less is more when it comes to styling, so if your home is full of clutter, either throw it out or put that fishing gear and as many of the kids’ toys as you can in storage until you move. A clean home is more likely to attract potential customers.

Is the price right?

Dropping the price isn’t necessarily the answer, but neither is being stubborn. If after numerous conversations with your real estate agent and valuations from at least two other operators your price still isn’t right, perhaps it’s time to get back to the drawing board and master the art of pricing your home to sell. Being fixed on a number won’t sell your property; being willing to move within a reasonable price range will.

Take it off the market

Although it sounds counterintuitive, removing your listing for a few months can help. If your house or apartment has been displayed for months and not sold, buyers may begin to think there is something wrong with it.

It takes most people at least a few months to view and find a property they like, so taking your property off the market and refreshing the interior or re-evaluating the asking price means you’ll arrive back on the housing market with a new look – and a new set of prospective customers.

Get a new agent

Like any relationship, the connection and understanding between you and your real estate agent can affect how quickly your property moves. Take a look at our guide to finding the right agent.

Try renting

After you’ve spruced up a room or two, moved the price and had a chat with your agent, you might want to consider renting out your property. You may not recoup as much as your mortgage, but at least you’ll get to move on. It can be better than an empty house sitting on the market draining funds.

Sometimes it’s not enough to sit back and wait for the market to pick up. If your house won’t sell, listen to the feedback from your agent and potential buyers and put these action steps in place. With any luck, you’ll find that your home will soon become hot property!