People who aren’t even our clients ask us this question!  If you are selling your home in the Houston, Texas real estate market, it has become quite obvious there is a definite slow down.  Houston is so big, the markets are localized down to the subdivision in most cases, and this causes definite frustrations for sellers.  Some areas are selling, while others are sitting.  Nowadays, the house doesn't sell itself, the seller does.  If you are sitting in a home that’s been on the market for several weeks or months, it may be time for a strategy adjustment, and that usually will depend on you.

The largest selling point of any home is the price.  Make sure you pick a price that is in trend with the current market or ahead of the current market.  The only way to be sure you have a competitively priced home is by doing a market analysis of your area.  These normally consist of looking at homes that are comparable to yours in size and amenities that have sold within the past 6 months or so.  If your home is priced above these, your home is over-priced.  If you see a declining trend in the market, you might have to price lower; always stay ahead of the market.  If you find yourself chasing it, you may never catch up!  Properties priced high are going to sit on the market and become a red flag to potential buyers.  They might think the home is not worth seeing if so many have passed it up or that there might be something wrong with it.  Research the current housing market and consider a price adjustment or incentive to entice Buyer’s Agents to show the home, like a bonus.  Your Realtor is the best tool and resource for doing a Comparative Market Analysis of your neighborhood, so make sure you listen carefully!

Do not limit the amount of potential buyers who can come into your home.  If you are restricting showing appointments, this will make it very difficult.  Make sure you have a lockbox on the property.  This will allow agents to bring buyers when it is most convenient for them.  Chances are, your home isn’t the only one they are seeing that day, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to get the perfect buyer in there.  A Realtor’s "Supra" lockbox is so advanced now, that one can track who comes to their home to insure there is recourse if something happens or goes missing.  Being forced to work around your schedule might leave a bad taste in their mouth causing them to move on.

Your entire block affects the curb appeal of your home.  If there is an unsightly house on your street, it might indicate to potential buyers that your neighborhood is run down.  Communicate with your neighbors the necessity for proper maintenance of their house for the sake of the entire neighborhood. 

We have written several times about making your property a showpiece with staging.  Perhaps freshening up the décor, changing the paint color or removing a little more furniture or knick-knacks would make a difference.  Your Realtor may know of a certified staging expert that can come by and give you a consultation in order to make your home stand out a little more.

Lastly, buyers are in the market for high value and low maintenance.  If your home has a few more honey-do’s than normal, chances are your home will be overlooked.  Consider making some of the repairs yourself to make the home more manageable for someone to purchase.  Another incentive for sellers to take on a home with more repairs is to offer a cosmetic allowance.  This allowance, provided by the seller will help the buyer offset the costs for repairs and make the property more enticing.  However, if the repairs are overwhelming, you may have to bite the bullet and take on some of them yourself.

Let’s face it, this market is tough, but it doesn’t mean people aren’t buying houses.  In order for your home to sell in a buyer’s market, sellers have to think outside the box and be proactive.  Don and  The Puryear Team has had success in this market, and are happy to help those who are ready and willing to take charge of selling their house.  If you are thinking of selling and need an aggressive and realistic perspective on the market, send us an email.  We’ll be happy to help you.