Are you frustrated because your house hasn’t sold? It may be because the price is not right for the current market conditions. That is usually the situation. The price reflects not just the market activity but also the appearance of the house. Is it clean? Picked up? Have you customized the children’s bedrooms with colors that are not neutral and really don’t show well in photographs? All of these are things to consider. But there is something else, too.
More and more often I see listings in the MLS system that do not show the rooms or the room’s dimensions as part of the standard information available to customers and agents alike. When asked, those listing agents have told me they do not put that info into their listing brochures because they are concerned they will be sued because the measurements might not be correct. Well, if the measurements are that critical to the buyer, it has been my experience the buyer will re-measure the room or the wall for themselves to be certain. I tell my buyers to never buy carpet based on a Realtor’s measurements!
When a listing brochure does not include the rooms and their sizes, the agent is doing his seller a disservice. Imagine if you were a buyer looking for a 3 or 4 bedroom home. The fourth bedroom you want to convert into an office or weight room, but the listing agent hasn’t indicated how many rooms are in the house. A three bedroom home with another room might work if only it were identified. The same applies to a 3000 or 4000 sq.ft. house. Buyers need different spaces for their lifestyles. A buyer may skip over a property because the basic information on the house isn’t included. What other important information has the agent not bothered to mention?
When interviewing prospective agents to sell your house, ask them if they include the rooms and the rooms’ dimensions in their listings. Better still, ask to see their MLS listing brochures to see how comprehensively they have completed the form. Are the taxes included? The water and sewer fees? Don’t let your agent get sloppy about the information they include with their MLS listing. It is important stuff.
Life is good and getting better!