Not obvious to a seller may be that the house looks dated, with carpeting in a 1970s green or walls in 1980s-kid colors. Eye-popping hues and themed decors may limit appeal.
"There is still that 'wow factor' when you walk in," Schmidt said.
SOLUTION: Paint. Enhance the landscaping, she said.
Consider staging the home. Nothing picks up a place better than new paint and carpeting; both can be done fast, Schmidt said.
If the house is vacant, paint with neutral colors; unusual shades don't work as well without their matching furnishings.
4. Condition is critical
Not only does the buyer want value, but so does the mortgage company.
"Lenders are quite strict about appraisals," said Whelan.
Insurers won't touch watertight shake roofs in some areas because of fire hazards, making a new roof imperative, Nelson wrote.
Sometimes, the basics are in need of help, such as broken window sashes.
Avocado kitchen appliances? They may work, but '70s-era appliances may detract, unless the rest of the neighborhood has them.
SOLUTION : Fix it, with caveats: It's probably more valuable to lower the price to compensate for the old kitchen than remodel a home on the market. An alternative is agreeing to fix it - for example, let the buyer select $10,000 in new flooring you will install in place of the orange shag.
A buyer is more likely to appreciate a nice kitchen than paying to renovate. But, Nelson suggested sprucing up a kitchen and omitting the appliances - instead, offer buyers credit funds to install their own choice of updates after closing.
5. We just don't like it
There are a host of other factors that can have your home sitting on the market for days. The rest of the neighborhood is for sale. The Web site is tired. The house may lack something the others have or should have. The customizations don't match current lifestyles.
SOLUTION: Re-examine the marketing plan. If a lot of identical homes are for sale, price competitively.
Have a great Web listing that links from other sites, said Gucker. Update online photos and shoot new ones of rooms where you've made changes, she said.
Besides the listing agent spreading the word, sellers can show initiative. E-mails on neighborhood listservs and talking about it don't hurt, Gucker said.
Consider staging a tiny bedroom, especially if it lacks closets or isn't legally a bedroom, as an office or studio, Nelson said.
andrea.siegel@baltsun.com
