Friday, May 10, 2019

What to do if your listing has expired

By Lisa DiBiase

Selling a home is an emotional process and one of the biggest financial decisions you can make in your life. It can be disappointing when your listing agreement expires, especially if you’re no closer to selling the house than when you first started. It’s time for you to assess your process. Regardless of the length of listing, the broker/seller working relationship has come to an end and this can be when sellers ask whose fault it is that the home isn't selling.

Take these following factors into consideration when deciding what your next move will be.


Motivation - Let’s start with why you chose to list your home. Why are you selling, and do you really want to sell your house? A seller with a strong motivation to sell their home will result in a successful sale. Are you choosing to list your home for the right reasons? Are you fully invested in the process? Are you truly motivated? Maybe you don't have a reason to sell and perhaps you should temporarily take your home off the market.

Condition of house - Your job in preparing your home for sale is to make it appealing to the widest range of buyers as possible. Prospective buyers view many properties during their home search. What improvements can you make so that your property stands out among competition? How does your home compare to similar properties on the market in your area? Sometimes all it takes is a few minor repairs, a good clean, fresh coat of paint or front yard landscaping to attract more buyers.

Buyer objections - What have buyers said about your home? Review buyer feedback, which your agent should have obtained for you when your home first went on the market. Is there validity to what buyers were saying? How can you compensate for those objections and what can you do differently? You need to be able to adjust and improve the showing experience for the next prospective buyer.

Marketing - Marketing is crucial because if no one knows your property is for sale, you are not going to get any buyers through or offers. Was there a business plan to sell your home? Review the marketing plan with your agent, step-by-step. Did your real estate agent implement marketing strategies to sell your home? Did you employ a variety of strategies to market your listing? These days, effective marketing includes both online and offline tactics.

Price - Ultimately, it always comes down to price. Any house will sell when the price is right – even if the place is full of junk and falling apart. Sure, it may not sell for the price you want, but there is usually a buyer for every property, given its priced appropriately. It was your agent’s job to help you set a list price that would attract the right buyers, get your home in optimal showing condition, and evaluate the market to put you in a better negotiating position. Either he or she didn’t do their job, or you didn’t listen to what they told you.

Consult new real estate agents - You won't have to look too far to find agents because they'll all come crawling out of the woodwork when your listing expires. If you decide to hire and new agent represent you and relist your property, be sure to describe the history of your listing.
Interview agents. Ask the hard questions to determine if the agents are giving you the right answers. Find out what another agent might do differently.

It's important to remember that statistics show you net more money when you use a REALTOR®. 

Finding a top local real estate agent is crucial to helping your sale. Stay positive! Keeping a positive mindset is important. Once you determine the reasons your home didn't sell the first time, change what needs to be fixed and you'll walk away with a successful transaction!

Lisa DiBiase
Broker/Owner Landing Real Estate
207-653-0823
lisa@landinghomesmaine.com
www.landinghomesmaine.com

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