Why Isn’t My House Selling?

Interested in knowing why your house is not selling? If you are feeling up against the wall, there's hope.

Yes, the real estate market is slow. Yes, the economy is in a DHED. And yet, houses are selling and people are moving.

In this series, we are going to look at situations that give you - the Atlanta seller - a better idea of what it takes to sell your home in today's market.

How many photos of your home are listed in the multiple listing service?

Do you know what the photos look like?

RISMedia has published a report relating the number of photos a multiple listing posts to the number of Days on Market (DOM). The findings show that mls listings with more photos sold faster.

This is the shake down on the photos to Days on Market (average) analysis.

• 1 photo = 70 DOM
• 6 photos = 40 DOM
• 16-19 photos = 36 DOM
• 20 photos max - 32 DOM

And listings with fewer photos sold for less. The Closed NET Price as a percentage of the Original Price also showed a direct correlation. (These findings are based on 2006 numbers and are again estimates.)

• 1 Photo = 91.2% of Original Price
• 6 or more = 95% of Original Price

According to these findings, a $600,000 home, sporting only one photo, could sell for as much as 3.8% LESS or a loss of over $22,000, just because there was only one photo accompanying the listing.

More amazing is the fact that only 12% of agents posted the allowed maximum photos. (NOTE: Our multiple listing service allows 12 photos plus a photo tour.)

What can you do to better position your house for sale?

1. Ask the listing agent to inform you when photos will be taken.
2. Prepare your house before the photos are shot.
3. Insist the maximum number of photos allowed be uploaded to mls.
4. Review photos after they are uploaded to the multiple listing service.
5. Take photos yourself, and send digital images to your listing agent.

The internet is the most powerful tool you can use when selling your home.

Well crafted photos do sell real estate. Pay attention to the online images of your house. You stand to gain by:

• Generating more interest
• Attracting more viewers/buyers
• Receiving higher offers
• Negotiating a higher selling price
• Enjoying a faster sale of your home.

This all translates into less stress and a greater peace of mind.

Photo by Spoon