Your house offers nothing that is unique. It does not stand out as anything special and that is probably what is keeping you from selling it.
The most attractive thing you have going is the deck and that if you are a family with small kids could be deemed a negative with no visiable way to close it off so they can't fall. Gates to match the railings would help with that.

It looks clean, it looks cared for but there is no sizzle. Nothing to make it stand out. Your window treatments are ho hum. I'd remove the mini blinds...at the very least pull them up so people can see the view and the light can pour in.

Empty houses that do not offer great mouldings or an exciting floor plan are hard to sell. You might think about staging the house to make it feel warmer. I think you over did it with the neutral paint. The place feels cold. I can not see a family feeling that this place could be home presented as it is.

I noticed the kitchen looks dark and small. It is hard to see. As to the colors, no matter what you choose, the new owners will have their own colors. This is only my view if I was looking at the house.DR--Remove valances Kitchen--for me too dark too small LR--remove blue valence put in smaller coffee table Deck ok 2nd bedroom appears to be a boy's 3rd remove/replace curtain. Basement--desk too small for me. Lots of upgrades and new stuff, but as you probably have found out, most people don't care/ or don't want to pay for them. Maybe by putting some furniture, in the rooms, flowers, etc and make it look lived in--even inexpensive stuff.
Not knowing where you are and not knowing the price/neighborhood/close to schools/hospital/ shopping might make a difference
Good luck

I think it looks pretty good. I'd play down (or replace) the baseball ceiling fan as that appeals only to families with small boys. I also think the range is dated, it might sound crazy, but a $500 range that is all white would make a huge difference!

We recently bought a house that was completely vacant - no furniture at all - so that's not always a negative. I like empty houses - they aren't hiding anything.

I do have a few suggestions for your website:
---I couldn't find on there anywhere the size of the house or the lot. Those are both critical things for me.
---The photos of the bedrooms are very blah. The description mentions the closet organizers - maybe include a picture of them? Anything to add some spice to those photos.
---Deck - what's this about a built-in slide? Why no photo?
---Living room - nothing at all here to interest me.
---Basement - you need a wide shot of the basement, not just pictures of the built-ins.
---No backyard picture? Why not?

But, even with the bland website and photos, you've had 40 showings. So that makes me think buyers are going there interested and leaving uninterested. Something at your house is turning them off.

Your phrase here: "It is below most of the competing homes in the area." - how is your house priced compared to houses that have actually *sold* in your area, not just the ones that are currently on the market? You need to price according to *sold* comps.

How many DOM is normal for your market right now? What does your realtor have to say about why it's not selling?

There is nothing wrong with this house but I would also be turned off by the pics. Sorry... but hopefully you can remedy a few things.

I would also consider the new range, by the way. Especially in a kitchen that size, it would make a big difference. For the kitchen picture, I would back up a bit and see if you can get a picture from a wider angle and more light.

Take ALL the furniture and wall hangings out of the living room. Maybe in some cases furniture might help sell, but to me, the sparse furniture and decor make it look like a rental. I would prefer to see it completely empty. And definitely, remove all the window treatments! They are too dark for the house in my opinion....

Similarly I would delete the repeated statements about the window treatments being included (even if you decide to leave them). And delete the mention of "neutral wall color" attached to every room picture. (Just one mention of "neutral decor" somewhere at the beginning should do it).

Remove all signs of boy bedroom from the 2nd bedroom. You'd be surprised how that might be enough to turn people off -- just the thought of right away having to re-do a bedroom they need to use, but can't use in "little boy" decor.

For the lower level, get a wider shot and don't take pics of the built-ins (just mention them).

I would list the pros of the house at the very beginning (neutral decor, updates blah blah) all together so the buyer is hit with them. Then choose your pictures carefully and make sure they are filled with lots of light, and don't over-describe the rooms.

I second the suggestion to list the yard size, home size, etc. in the listing.

And of course, make sure your price is really, truly in line with what it should be. If you've shown it 40 times, there is something going on. If it's not price, then I honestly fell you would be better in this case to remove all furniture and window treatments and sell the house empty.

Good luck!

I'd get rid of the bedroom photos entirely. A lighter/brighter kitchen photo is essential. Don't mention the neutral paint so often--once at the beginning is enough. Remove the wallpaper border in one bedroom and the baseball fan in the other.

In the presentation, focus on what buyers want to know and what is attractive to them.

House size (bedrooms, baths)
Lot size, mention mature trees
Renovated kitchen with new cabinets and countertops (I'd buy a new range).
Wonderful entertaining space in living room and oversize deck.

You're getting people in the home, 40 showings, so although I don't think the photos show your house to it's best advantage, I don't think it's the photos that are turning people off. It's something about the house itself. Your house doesn't show like a 10, at least from the pictures. But neither is it hideous. Is the location good? And you say you're priced below most of the homes in the area. What you need to be is priced below most of the COMPS for the area. If everyone else is overpriced then your house is overpriced as well. The sold houses will give you a better idea of where you need to be in pricing.

What do you like most about the home? Backyard? Location? Great neighbors? Quiet plumbing? Make sure you mention whatever it is.
I know that most people seem to look at a house and see superficial stuff and that's what they decide on. I personally don't understand it but you have to listen to those inputs and address them.
Me personally its - the outside - lot size, privacy and them what I call mechanicals. Roof? Plumbing? Dry basement? If your basement has always been dry and damp basements are a problem other places in town - mention that. Personally the thought of poor work on upgrades scares me to death i.e. DIY'ers and contractors who don't know what they are doing. (Some of the guys at working talking about the things they do - holy cow, not stuff you can see later either). Have you had work done professionally by someone you thought was really good? Mention that. Those are examples of things that might make your home stand out in someone's mind. What else does your home offer in peace of mind?
Mary

I don't like the pictures either. They give the impression that you moved out and left a few things behind that someone else is going to get to clean up. For instance, that bedroom with the blue walls, border, wall stickers, and shelf make it appear as if you are still moving out and someone is going to have to go in there and take some things down off the wall and repaint. Does this room still look like that?

I would paint the walls in the two smaller bedrooms a more nuetral color to nuetralize the house and to bring more continuity and flow to the house. My impression from the pictures is that everything is choppy. You have one color going on in one room and another color in another room. For instance, the color themes from these pictures are two blue bedrooms and living room, maroon/burgandy dining room and yellow kitchen. I'm not sure how much carpet you have in the house, but I'd replace it with something nuetral. I know you don't live there anymore, but I'd also replace the curtains to something more flowing and nuetral like white or beige to give the impression of warmth and that this house is going to be easy to move into.

Does this house have a garage? Do houses in your area commonly have garages? Where do you store your lawnmowers, etc.? How big are your closets? I can't find a references to these things. Are they something that would turn me off if I saw the house in person?

Here is a link that might be useful: Inexpensive Curtain suggestions

adellabedella wrote: I would paint the walls in the two smaller bedrooms a more nuetral color to nuetralize the house

I agree 100%. We made the mistake of not doing this before we listed our house the first time. There was a blue bedroom, a purple bedroom and a peachy beige bedroom. Yeah, it's "only paint" but it's one more thing that can be a negative.

Someone said above that there is something about your home that is turning people off AFTER they see it. But I think it may be a series of (relatively small) things. Taken alone, each one is minor. But a list of minor issues can add up in a buyer's mind. I think your house would show better totally empty. Remove everything, repaint the walls a soft warm yellow-beige and have the carpet professionally cleaned (or consider replacing depending on condition). Yes, you will spend some money but the house is obviously not selling in the condition it's in.

After all that, take some new pictures or consider having a professional who is experienced in photographing home interiors do it. It makes a HUGE difference!

Good Luck!

With photo editing software it is not hard to brighten up that kitchen picture so that it doesn't look like a cave.

I agree that a new stove would help a lot in there. Since it's electric get a nice smoothtop.
The bedroom pictures are pointless, unless you want to show that you have windows, ceiling fans and a wallpaper border that will need to come down. My rule on pictures is to only use pictures that show an asset of the house. The listing says that there are three bedrooms, you don't need to show all of them to prove it. Show the things that are special, like the deck and scenic wooded view.

I still think it's not the photos (although they don't help) that are keeping this house from selling. The house we just bought has an older stove and refrigerator. Oh well. I'm looking for a *whole house*, not appliances.

OP has had *40* showings ... 40! And no offer. Something is wrong there at the house - people are looking but not offering.

Odors, poor construction, priced too high, backyard is strange (no pictures of that), street is too noisy - something is turning off people once they get there and walk though.

Although the OP said they have "done everything" to sell this house - the poorly-designed website doesn't reflect that. There's an invitation to "take the virtual tour" but the virtual tour is still under construction - ? After 7 months? Who picked those photos? Who took them? Why no information about the size of the house or lot?

I'd have a heart-to-heart with the realtor and get some solid advice on what to do. Print out this thread and take it with you. And if that's not satisfying, change realtors.

I agree that after 7 months and 40 showings there is something else going on. There is generally nothing about a house that can't be overcome if the price is right.

This may be a silly question, but what is a twin home - is that like a duplex/semi-detached?
Just wondering...
Margaret

I read a thread on this earlier... a "twin home" is what we call a duplex here (two houses connected by a common wall).

I didn't realize this was not a stand alone house.

What are you using for comps? Are there quite a few houses like this out there?

Where I've lived, twin homes/duplexes have mainly been rental homes. The owner may/may not live on one side and rent out the other. The people who lived in the homes tended to live there a year or two and then move on. Most of these families had either no children or toddler age children. These people also wanted to have a lower maintenance home with a little bit of yard to piddle around in.

I guess if I were looking to buy one of these, I'd be wondering about things like
-who mows the lawn
-what are the neighbors like
-how often am I going to get a new next door neighbor

I'd like to see a picture from further out in the street to see what the house and nearest neighbors houses look like. In a way, it looks like you are trying to target a family with children by having the boys room and the outdoor playset. I think if you want to appeal to a broader buying base, you need to remove the 'family' features so it will to appeal to others like a single person or couple without kids, etc. If you still want the family features, I would consider adding a fence. I'm a mom with young children. I will not live someplace where I don't feel comfortable letting my kids out in the encapsulated back yard.

Is a family member selling the house? I noticed the names on the disclosure were the same as the contact name. I know this is probably a tricky situation for you if it is a family member. This realtor isn't doing you any favors. The web site pictures are bad. Despite this, you have gotten 40 people in to look at your house. The realtor really should be making some suggestions to get this house sold whether it be lowering the price or repainting and making a few changes.

I agree with most posts here...... the pictures make these rooms look dark. The kitchen seems very small.....that said I think you can upgrade your stove and countertops.Change the laminate/linloeum flooring- they can make a kitchen look old.(maybe stainless steel for the appliances and quartz/granite for countertops, ceramic tile floor etc...)Make it POP!!

As far as the bedrooms, i think you need to tone down the kids room and make it a neutral for any person.

Also depending on the bathroom, make sure its not an Eighty's bathroom, update if you have too.( marble countertop, ceramic floor/marble)

My opinion, if the kitchen and bathroom needs updating, then a house will not sell......fast.

Good Luck

Comment by adellabella makes me wonder if viewers are not realizing that it is a twin house until they come to see it. Not obvious from either the photos or the description that this is the case.

The OP, Vic25, is notably absent in this discussion. If I would have started this thread (which has GREAT advice in my opinion), I would have contributed and added new information as needed from the seller's point of view. Makes me wonder.

Thank you all for the great advice. I have already gone to the house to make some of the changes. We have three showings this week so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again for the wonderful advice.