Your house was on the real estate market for a period of time
and it didn't sell.
You wonder what was it that caused it not to sell.
Well, here is some information you might be able to use to see what caused your house not to sell.
Marketing A House - The Right Way
From Start To Finish
This is what should have happened when you first started to market your house for sale.
1. You schedule interviews with a least three RealtorsŪ
to market your house.
(NOTE: I SAID MARKET, NOT SELL)
2. During the interview the following things should happen
A. The RealtorŪ asks you questions to find out
what your needs and objectives are.
(After all, how can
he/she help you if they don't know why you are selling in the
first place.)
B. You show the RealtorŪ your house and all its
best features.
(Show it as if you
were showing it to a prospective buyer. The RealtorŪ will
also make notes of
what needs repaired or replaced.)
C. The RealtorŪ shows you the marketing plan
designed for your house.
(This plan should
be designed to get your house the most exposure possible
using up to date
modern technology.) NOT SALES TALK, FACTS,
FACTS, FACTS AND
HOW THEY BENEFIT YOU IN THE SALE OF
YOUR HOUSE.)
D. A review of the forms needed to put your house
on the market to get it sold
and information on
pricing your house.
(Remember:
You are the one who sets the price of the house. So price it
based on facts such
as what houses in the area have sold for in the past six
months and what is
the price of active listings in your area.
E. Now that you have all the facts you make a
decision on which of the RealtorsŪ
you are going to hire for
the job of marketing your house.
This entire process should take at least two hours if done correctly.
NOTE: You have to pick the company and agent who can do the most to get your house the maximum exposure possible to get it sold.
WARNING: The major reasons houses sit on the market for long periods of time and don't sell are usually.
#1 - Poor or no Marketing.
#2 - Incorrect pricing at the start.
NOW THAT YOU SELECTED A REALTORŪ THE MARKETING OF YOUR HOUSE BEGINS.
3. Your house should be put in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) within 24 business hours. There should be a minimum of 8 photos of the interior of your home on the MLS. Most just have one photo of the front of the house and those usually take longer to sell. (You are entitled to see the final MLS listing for your house and make sure it says what you want it to say.)
4. Your house should be on the Internet within 48 hours of the listing being activated on the MLS. (You should be given the MLS number and a copy of the web site.)
5. Your house should be put on a 24 hour a day 7 day a week audio marketing system that allows prospective buyers to get information on your house when they want it. The system also captures the caller's phone number so they can be called and ask if they have interest in your house. (This should include all information about the house, including all features, school information, and the web site address of the private web site for your house (see # 10 below). (You should be given a copy of the audio marketing system script.)
6. A sign should be put in the yard within 24 hours after the house is activated on the MLS.
7. A key box should be put on the house to allow agents to show it easily. (All showings should be handled by your RealtorŪ, you should not be scheduling appointments with other agents.)
8. You should be given feedback both from the agent and their clients.
9. Flyers should be made on your house that give very limited information about the house and tell the prospective buyer to call the 24 hour information system to get more info. (This will capture the prospective buyers phone number so an appointment can be scheduled to show your house.)
10. Your house should be placed on its own private web site and all marketing on your house should direct prospective buyers to the web site. (Site must have all information on the house.)
11. An open house should be scheduled for your house within two weeks of putting it on the MLS. (Open house must be advertised in the newspaper, on the Internet, and by flyers and postcards.)
You should be able to show us all the above items if they were available on your house. If they weren't available on your house then that could have been a big part of why your house didn't sell.