I must say that every now and then you just have to laugh about all the negative media. Houses are not selling fast, The mortgage industry debacle, Large lenders went out of business, more homes to the market, home prices are falling and everything that comes with this gigantic housing bubble burst phenomenon.

It is definitely a buyers market. But, buyers are hesitant about buying. Homeowners are realizing that they are not getting offers. Some sellers are wondering why their homes won’t sell when only 6 out of every home on the market sells each month. They might think is the market situation that is preventing them from selling their homes, but they should think again.

Let me illustrate some of the several things sellers actually do to keep their homes from selling or better yet, keep buyers from wanting to see their home.

1. First they pay no attention to the market, statistics, trends and reality in a seller’s Market.
2. They insist on a set price and remain 90 to 180 days behind the market by refusing to reduce the price to a marketable level.
3. They provide a telephone number that nobody answers or has been disconnected.
4. Never leave the house when buyers want to see it. They stay so they can watch them closely.
5. Let the weeds grow high enough to hide the trash in the front yard. If buyers can’t see the trash they won’t know its there. Who cares about first impression?
6. Keep lots of clutter by the front door. If there is a lot of junk there the buyer will have to slow down and see the house.
7. Leave lots of dirt and dust on ledges and corners. It hides the deteriorated paint underneath.
8. Leave furniture facing in different directions and make sure that love seat is covering the hole in the wall. Trash is good, holes are bad.
9. Challenge the buyer. Let them guess what the room is for. Just because it has a closet doesn’t mean it’s a bedroom.
10. If it’s broken, they leave it. Let the buyer fix it if they want it fixed.
11. Leave the old appliances. They add character to the house. Especially if they don’t work. Save your money for the next house.
12. Leave store boxes in the hallway. The buyer does know they are moving, why hide it?
13. Tell their friends to keep their opinions to themselves. They are the sellers; they know better than everyone else what to do to sell their home.

Considering the tough market we are in, it is not always the reason why your home is not selling.