3 Reasons No One Wants to Buy Your House

It's not always the price that holds back buyers.

You checked the comps and the price is right, but you’ve gone weeks without an offer. Time to face the facts: No one wants to buy your home. Here’s why.

For starters, your house might lack curb appeal. Real-estate agents are in agreement: If you can’t get buyers past the front yard, you’re not going to get them in the front door. Mulch the beds, wash the windows and clean the gutters.

Second, you might need to declutter. Buyers want to see your home’s potential, not your kid’s finger-painting. Remove personal items, from family photos to artwork on the fridge. Also, clear out closets and put excess furniture in storage. Your home will look more spacious.

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Third – and no offense – your house might smell. Pet odors are bad, but agents say cigarette smoke is the worst. Fresh paint, fresh air and professional carpet cleaning will help.

See more reasons why your home is still on the market.

Andrea Browne Taylor
Contributing Editor

Browne Taylor joined Kiplinger in 2011 and was a channel editor for Kiplinger.com covering living and family finance topics. She previously worked at the Washington Post as a Web producer in the Style section and prior to that covered the Jobs, Cars and Real Estate sections. She earned a BA in journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She is Director of Member Services, at the National Association of Home Builders.