Aloha, friends. Are you a bit unsure of how your home might sell in today’s Hawaii real estate market? Or have you already put it on your island’s MLS and aren’t getting the results you had hoped for, either low offers or none at all to even consider?
With no feasible traction at all, it can be a hard way to learn that your property may do better with a direct sale to a company that buys houses in Hawaii. We will explore five reasons your Hawaii house won’t sell using traditional methods.
Price
One of the first reasons your Hawaii house won’t sell using traditional methods is that you’ve priced it incorrectly (it happens all the time). When buyers search online for home listings (it’s 2022 – this is where buyers start), they quickly become very familiar with the size and features at any given price range. Therefore, a property that’s priced too aggressively can turn off home shoppers before they’ve even left the house.
In the past, setting a price a bit above market value and then negotiating with the buyers to sell at market may have worked (and sometimes still can). Today, however, this isn’t a winning strategy because buyers will simply keep scrolling by, so easy to do online.
Likewise, a home priced at below market value is often considered a ‘bargain’ listing or even slightly distressed. These sellers typically receive offers below their asking price because buyers will often assume there are some hidden problems in the property.
A professional buyer like those at Oahu Home Buyers will know what amount you should list your home for on the market and what you’d earn after paying all of your expenses (your net proceeds). Then, we will compare this amount with the numbers used to reach our cash and terms offers, with no commissions deducted, so you can decide what is best for your situation and that you’ll know you’re getting a fair deal.
Condition
Another of the reasons your Hawaii house won’t sell using traditional methods is when the property needs a lot of work. Unfortunately, most buyers today mostly want move-in-ready homes (any agent will tell you this); many will scroll right on past outdated or fixers without giving them a second look.
Why so? Some buyers don’t want to take on the work of managing contractors and handymen; some can’t envision how to do the renovations in the first place, like choosing paint colors and sheens, flooring styles, and kitchen layouts. Others simply don’t have the funds — renovations in Hawaii are expensive, often costing $100,000 or more.
Now, on the other hand, through a direct sale to a professional buyer like those from Oahu Home Buyers, you can leave all of the concerns and risks of making repairs up to us; we buy homes in as-is condition, even if the home is a ‘teardown’ and is only worth the land itself — we can buy it. No fees.
Marketing
Some people say business is 100% marketing and the rest fills in the blanks. I don’t know if this is true (if not, it’s close to it), but there’s no question that to sell your Hawaii house properly requires skill and elbow grease – this means proper marketing. If you skipped costs and cut back on marketing, this may be a strong reason your Hawaii house won’t sell using traditional methods. Using less than the highest quality images (professional) and showing your home in less than the best light can stop buyers from opening your listing or turning them off when they show up and the in-person experience doesn’t match the photos (incongruence).
Outdated
Another reason your Hawaii house won’t sell using traditional methods is that your decor and appliances are simply outdated. Many homes in Hawaii still have the same furnishing and whatnot from the 1970s. While you may still enjoy your green carpets and flat-panel kitchen cabinets, buyers today in 2022 often have a hard time looking past this type of presentation. To sell your home for the highest potential profit, it’s usually worth investing in new flooring, paint, cabinets, and countertops. You should also consider updating the appliances and minor updates to modernize your kitchen and bathrooms to help your property compete against other listings, like new tile surrounds and vanities.
Staging
Showings provide an excellent opportunity for today’s buyers to walk through the home, imagining what it would be like to make it their own, to wake up and have their coffee in the living room while looking over Diamond Head or the waters off of Haleiwa, Kihei, or Kona. What if you skipped the staging? Buyers would still see your own personal stamp on the property — your paint colors, your furniture, old vinyl flooring, family photos, etc.
In general, failure to prepare for buyer showings may be just the reason your Hawaii house won’t sell using traditional methods. Don’t overlook the exterior (patch that siding) and landscaping (pull those weeds and water the lawn) when working towards improving the curb appeal of your home.
As an alternative, a direct sale to Oahu Home Buyers means you won’t have to worry about organizing and preparing for showings and dealing with all of the hassles above.
The professional buyers at Oahu Home Buyers understand that there are many reasons a Hawaii house won’t sell using traditional methods and are here to help. At Oahu Home Buyers, our goal is to be sure you’ll feel good about the sale long after closing. Our team at Oahu Home Buyers care about the local community and are proud of our work, improving neighborhoods one home at a time and helping homeowners just like you resolve their underlying home or mortgage problems. The professional buyers at the company take the time to listen and answer any questions you may have. Contact Oahu Home Buyers at (808) 333-3677.