Some years ago, I sold my house and have regretted it ever since. Not only was it a really nice home that I had gained, through successfully building my business and investments, but it was my sanctuary. I should have fought harder to keep it but due to my marriage breakup and financial changes that occurred from it and the economy, I could no longer afford to keep it on my own. Plus it took a couple years of listing it off and on, trying to sell it myself and with a couple realtors, before it sold. I didn’t lose on it but didn’t make much money from it as some of it went to pay debts.
It wasn’t what I was expecting when the cheery-faced realtor showed up at my door with such hope and promise. Matter of fact he said he would buy it if he didn’t already have a home. That though may have just been a marketing ploy to enlist him.
The price was adjusted a few times but still had no solid offers. It didn’t help at that time, you kept hearing about the never ending recession. Of course the word “recession” alone gave all the leverage to buyers and a buyer’s market it became. Suddenly the light bulb appears, why selling in a buyer’s market as you almost have to beg for a sale or stand out from the rest. But some of us have no choice because the “recession” caused us some setbacks. Who to blame?
Maybe I can blame the realtor because he didn’t seem to be doing anything exceptional that I couldn’t have been doing myself. It didn’t help when all you hear are excuses for why your house is not selling, rather than finding better marketing methods and targeting buyers more efficiently to get the house sold. He kept saying, ” it’s because you don’t have hardwood flooring that most buyers are expecting”. Well bud, I am not going to spend $20,000 on hardwood from money I don’t have in order to please an unknown buyer who may not purchase anyway. My house didn’t have hardwood so why is he showing to people who expect it.
To think I hired a realtor to take pressure of myself. What was I thinking? No wonder he never sold the house! I had to try to sell on my own before enlisting another realtor who eventually sold it but at a lower price thanks to his negotiating skills and my desperation.
Yes selling a house is not easy in a tough market (and when your heart’s not in it). You have to get more creative…or drop your price to nothing. Where’s the darn seller’s market when you need it the most!
14/365
