fbpx

10 things to do when your property doesn’t sell

Published on December 7th, 2020
  Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
Our authors



Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

At Savvy, our mission is to empower you to make informed financial choices. While we maintain stringent editorial standards, this article may include mentions of products offered by our partners. Here’s how we generate income.

So, you’re planning on selling your house. You fix it up, you put it out on the market… and nothing happens. You’ve done everything you can, but it won’t sell and now it’s out of your hands, you think. But is it, really? Here are 10 things you can do when your property doesn’t sell.

Tweak your price

Your price expectations won’t always align with the reality of the current market. Don’t be too set on an ideal price because otherwise your house runs the risk of remaining unsold for a long time.

Try a new look

Make your first impression count! Presentation is everything when you’re selling a house, so make sure it looks good, clean, comfortable, that it smells nice, etc. Remember – your potential buyers are looking for a new home, so make it easy for them to imagine themselves in yours.

Ask for advice

Professional or amateur advice – it’s all welcome. Sometimes, you need a fresh pair of eyes or a new perspective when you are no longer able to be objective about what’s going right and what isn’t. Listen to what others tell you; they may be seeing something you don’t.

Step back

The longer your property is on the market, the less likely it is you’re going to sell it. Three months is generally the mark when you have to start thinking about making a tactical retreat. A house that’s been for sale for too long will seem like it has something wrong with it and will mostly get passed over. In addition, buyers may try to use that as leverage to get you to drop the price.

Don’t lose patience

Whenever you take on such an endeavour like selling a property, be prepared for it to be a long, difficult and time-consuming process. Don’t expect it to sell right away, because you will be disappointed. Be patient.

Try a new advertising angle

A lot of times, it’s not the house that’s wrong, it’s the way it’s marketed. Instead of a typical, boring ad, try introducing something new and fun. Attract buyers’ attention with photographs and beautiful backdrops.

Compare & contrast

Don’t get too caught up in your own way of doing things – take a look at other properties on the market and see how they are presenting themselves. You might get an idea or two, and it’s always good to scope out the competition.

Time for an upgrade

If your property isn’t attracting enough attention as it is, try tweaking some things, adding and updating others – a spruce or an upgrade always attracts more attention and drives the price up.

Enlist professional help

Don’t try to do it yourself; entrust your house to a capable realtor. They have the experience and the necessary knowledge to make the most of this transaction.

Spread the word

If what you’ve been doing isn’t working, try letting more people know about your property. Post it on every website you can think of, ask family and friends to tell people they know, etc. You never know where potential buyers may pop up from.

Did you find this page helpful?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!

This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.

The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.

Approval for home loans is always subject to our lender’s terms, conditions and qualification criteria. Lenders will undertake a credit check in line with responsible lending obligations to help determine whether you’re in a position to take on the loan you’re applying for.

The interest rate, comparison rate, fees and monthly repayments will depend on factors specific to your profile, such as your financial situation, as well as others, such as the loan’s size and your chosen repayment term. Costs such as broker fees, redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, aren’t included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate.

In this article

Share this article

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on pinterest

Looking for a home loan?

Compare Australia’s reputed home loan lenders with us and save.

* Terms and conditions and lending criteria apply.

Smart money saving tips

Subscribe to our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy

Related articles

Easily compare home loan options today

We compare home loan options for you so you can be assured you’re seeing the most competitive interest rates available in Australia.