Our house has been on the market since late October. The plan is to move north with his wife and son to be closer to his mother, who is alone and unwell.
I had several viewings, but no offers. I’m a little worried because my time is limited.
The couple living in the terraced house next to us are exactly what I would describe as ‘sociable’.
Just as we were putting up a for sale sign outside our property, they halloween I am decorating the outside of my house.
Now they have a lot of fancy stuff Christmas lights up, and so do all the scary inflatable decorations in the shape of Santa and elves.
I think the appearance of the house in the neighborhood may be deterring prospective buyers. Will this reduce the value of my home? It looks like you have some pretty wild neighbors, which isn’t interesting to everyone.
Our own house isn’t in such bad shape, but to be honest it could probably be fine with a freshen up.
How can I sell my house as quickly as possible?
Glitzy: You need to sell your house fast, but you have a neighbor who loves Christmas lights.
This is Money’s Jane Denton says: I think you should focus on how your property looks to potential buyers and how much a real estate agent can help sell your property quickly.
We understand that you may not be best friends with your neighbors and find their decorations flashy, but don’t let that distract you.
The people in the neighborhood said it was lively. Please note that if you get into a more serious dispute with them, you as a seller have a legal obligation to disclose this. If you don’t, the person who ultimately buys your home may have a claim against you for misrepresenting the property.
Assuming your neighbor’s problems are less serious than your preference for outside light, consider refreshing your grounds soon.
Make sure your outdoor space is clean, tidy, and welcoming to prospective buyers.
Internally, you may not have the time, money, or inclination to do major work, but focus on making sure your home is in the best condition possible. Cleaning up and making sure to fix any peeling paint or torn wallpaper can go a long way.
We asked two real estate experts for their take on your question.
Liam Gretton, owner of Liam Gretton Bespoke Estate Agents on the Wirral Peninsula, says: This is a difficult situation, but definitely fixable.
Selling your home quickly can be stressful, especially when outside factors are at play.
Your neighbors’ bold decorations may raise some eyebrows, but honestly, it’s not likely to be a major issue.
Buyers know that such things are temporary. Sure, some people may be hesitant, but that shouldn’t stop a serious buyer who loves your home from making an offer.
Instead of worrying about your neighbors, focus on what you can control. Make sure you’re working with a real estate agent who focuses on marketing and can highlight the benefits of your home and area in a variety of formats and on a variety of platforms.
You mentioned that your home can be refreshed, but this may actually be a bigger factor. Most buyers are attracted to homes that feel move-in ready.
Temporary distraction: Liam Gretton isn’t convinced Christmas lights are the crux of the problem
Simple updates like a fresh coat of neutral paint, sprucing up your yard, and rearranging your furniture to create more space can make a big difference. It’s all about helping buyers imagine living there.
I’m a big proponent of doing more than the basics. So if your real estate agent’s approach is to just take a few photos, create a fancy floor plan, and list the property on a portal, that’s probably part of the problem.
If you want to sell quickly, this is the way to go.
1. Check the price. Make sure the price of your home is competitive and based on factual evidence, not just what you want. Remember that prices are designed to attract buyers. No matter how good the property is, if it’s too expensive, it won’t sell.
2. Make a great first impression: Keep the front of your home tidy and tidy so that the interior is clean, bright, and inviting. A small investment here can yield big returns.
3. Open conversation: When you choose a real estate agent, you’re basically hiring them to do a job, so if your real estate agent isn’t delivering results, you should just walk away.
Remember, it shouldn’t be a one-sided conversation. This is a collaboration. Ideally, you should meet with your real estate agent in person every few weeks to review their marketing and ask them what else they’re doing if your strategy isn’t working.
If you can’t find a good answer, it may be time to look for someone who can offer a more dynamic and proactive approach.
Selling a home is a team effort between you and your agent. I am confident that with the right process and strategy, you can find a buyer and move north to be closer to your mother.
Jeremy Leaf, a North London estate agent and former chairman of Rix Housing, says: You’re probably looking at two different issues here and combining them into one.
The main problem is that the house is not selling. That’s why it’s much more important to look for the reason than just assuming it’s your neighbor’s fault.
Focus on what you can control: Jeremy Leaf believes readers need to understand real estate presentation and pricing.
Halloween and Christmas decorations on your neighbor’s house may be part of it, but you can’t control them. So, it’s important to understand the appearance and price of your home correctly to have the best chance of finding a buyer.
Most potential buyers will understand that the decorations are temporary and will not be on display in January, February, or March. It’s hard to say for sure that it’s turning people away, as it may be welcomed by some potential buyers as well.
Check everything else before considering a price change.
Ask a trusted friend or relative for advice and independently check what your property looks like online. Will you stand out from the crowd? Is it significantly differentiated to attract attention?
There have been so many stocks on the market over the past few months that you need to stand out if you want to sell. Only affordable and attractive homes will attract interest.
If your agent is marketing the property for you, ask them what they think. Ask if there are any similar properties that are getting more interest than yours, and if so, what they think about why.
If you’re not in a hurry to sell, it might be worth taking your house off the market over Christmas and starting over with a new build in the new year.
Many people have other things on their mind during this time, which can make it more difficult to find a buyer.
Using this time to update the exterior of your property and make it look better in photos can increase its sales potential, not to mention its value.
This will put you in a good position to take advantage of the influx of new inquiries next year.
Finally, considering all of the above, consider your desired price. Look at similar properties for sale near you and consider whether they are realistically priced for your situation.
