Written by 3 REASONS WHY A HOME HASN’T SOLD
There are 3 primary reasons why a home hasn’t sold within the average amount of time for a given market. This month we’ll review the first reason: “Presentation and Depersonalization”.
Properly preparing a home for marketing involves much more than cleaning, decluttering, and making minor repairs. The optimal solution is to neutralize the home completely. The first step is to remove all personal items from the home. It’s much more difficult for a buyer to make an offer on a home if it feels like someone else’s home. Personal items include family photos, religious items, and anything else that could distract the buyer from imagining their own personal items in the home. The second step is to freshen up and revitalize the home. Numerous little changes can make a huge difference. A few ideas to start with include: update with new door knobs throughout (especially the front door/main entry), outlet and light switch covers, light fixtures (inside and outside the house), vent covers and return duct, knobs and pulls in the kitchen and bathrooms, neutral paint colors, doorbell, and a digital thermostat. It’s truly surprising how much these minor changes can freshen up a home. The third step is to detach yourself from the home as much as possible. The average home in Yakima right now takes 4 months to sell. If you’re going to get serious about selling, take everything you most likely won’t use in the next 4 months and move it to storage (winter clothes/summer clothes and etc.). $80 per month for a storage unit is far less expensive than 6 more months on the market. Check back next month for the second reason why a home hasn’t sold!
In the month of December, the Yakima area real estate market recorded 82 total homes sold with an average sales price of $168,073. This is the highest average sales price in December over the past 4 years. However, this is the lowest number of homes sold for any December in more than a decade.
To view more statistics pertaining to the Yakima Real Estate Market, click the link below or visit my blog (mobile friendly) at www.corybemis.com
Click here to view monthly statistics chart.
Your Local Real Estate Professional,
Cory Bemis
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