5 Reasons why any property does NOT sell,

1. LOCATION - Longitude and latitude...there isn't anything you can do to change the location of your home when you put it up for sale...unless of course, it's a mobile home. Consider this the only factor a seller can't control regarding the sale of their home. Don't despair, you purchased the home in it's current location and so will someone else...for the right price. Price cures all home selling ills.

2. CONDITION - Here's where a motivated seller can make a real difference. In this market the condition of your property is paramount. Buyers have so much inventory to look at if your home isn't in great condition they're just going to go on to the next house. How's that carpet? Dirty, worn...does it have to be cleaned or replaced. Any marks on the walls that can be corrected with a gallon of paint? Paint is the cheapest condition fix that will return the most money. Updating a kitchen or baths is pretty expensive but sometimes it has to be done in order to get your house sold. If the cabinets are in good condition think about replacing the countertops. It make a big difference. I'm sure that wallpaper was in vogue when you put it up...twenty years ago. It may still be in great shape but it's screaming update me.

3. PRICE - In the current market price is everything. There are a lot of great homes sitting on the market for a long time because of price. The old strategy of starting out high and maybe lowering your price in a couple of week doesn't work now. Buyers have almost all the information that a real estate agent has today. They see the homes that are overpriced and frankly just pass them by. They know that the price will be reduced shortly. A lot of buyers are still waiting on the sidelines for the prices to drop even more. Price is the single most important factor in selling a house.

4. TERMS - How easy is it to show your house? Do you have a lockbox and flexible showing times? If you don't buyers have a word for it...next. Your house is for sale, make it available. How about the occupancy? Are you flexible when it comes to a settlement date? Are you absolutely opposed to helping the buyer with closing costs? In the Annapolis and Crofton real estate market buyers routinely ask the seller to contribute towards their closing costs. If you just say no you may not get another offer.

5. AGENT - Yep, the agent. I took a course where the presenter constantly reiterated "the house will sell when you get the right agent." What he was saying here is that the right agent isn't afraid to tell the seller what needs to be done. There are far too many agents who just sit back and condone failure because they just can't step up and make strong recommendations to the seller, their employer. The right full time agent will have a good marketing plan and will stick to it, even in bad times.