One of the biggest problems you might encounter when you’re trying to sell your property is non-specific feedback from viewers who didn’t want to buy it.
People – and people in the UK in particular – often don’t want to make critical comments about someone’s home, so they might just say they prefer another place or say that yours just “…isn’t what we’re looking for…”
Ask your estate agent for the painful truth
It may also be the case that your agent doesn’t want to pass on really negative feedback, but this is often the most valuable kind, as it can point out what you need to change or improve in order to sell.
If several prospective buyers have said the same thing, for example, they’re worried about the noise from a nearby road, then it’s worthwhile finding out about it. You might think that there’s nothing you can do about this issue – you can’t move the road, after all. You can, however, plant a fast-growing hedge or install double glazing to dampen the sound.
Ask your estate agent for every little criticism so that you can address the main gripes and then work through the smaller ones. Some viewers might not like your decor, in which case you can change it. Others might feel your garden is too small, in which case you could try to tidy it up or landscape it to make the most of the space.
If you can’t handle the truth…
Then you may just have to accept that you’ll languish on the market for months, waiting around for someone to make a reasonable offer. You may also come under pressure to reduce your asking price in order to bring in more potential buyers, which can be a very disheartening experience indeed.
Look for a compromise
Of course, if you’re flexible about your asking price, then you could offer a small reduction so that your buyers can fit their own double glazing once they take possession. However, if you need to meet your target, then you might have to face up to the reasons for rejection and use them to move forwards.
