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- Business Insider asked real-estate agents around the country about what it’s really like working in their industry.
- We asked agents if there are any factors that can make a home "unsellable."
- While some realtors said any home can sell at the right price, others said that factors such as an undesirable location, a death in the home, and bad odors (particularly from cats) can render a house unsellable.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Business Insider asked real-estate agents around the country about what it’s really like working in the industry, what they wish they could tell their clients, and if there are any factors that can make a home "unsellable."
Some said anything will sell at the right price. But several realtors said that an undesirable location, a death on the property, and bad odors — particularly from cats — are some of the things that can make a home virtually impossible to sell.
Here are 11 factors that can make a home unsellable, according to real-estate agents.
1. An undesirable location — like being next door to an airport or a frat house — can pose a problem.
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"Location is a huge factor," Butch Haze, who sells homes between $3 million and $10 million in the San Francisco area, told Business Insider. "In San Francisco, I also keep an eye out for big power lines obstructing the window views. Space is tight in the Bay Area, but backyards still make a difference."
Homes that are next to places like a fraternity house or an airport could be particularly tricky to sell or rent, added Elana Delafraz of REAL New York, who rents homes in the city for $3,200 to $5,000 per month.
"The biggest obstacle is location," Gerard Marino, who does sales in the $300,000 to $500,000 range in southwest Florida, told Business Insider. "A bad location can only be corrected with a low price."
2. An unrealistic price tag is a common issue.
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Several realtors said that when a home isn’t selling, it’s probably because the price is too high.
"An unsellable home is one that is not priced right," said Noemi Bitterman of Warburg Realty, who handles sales in New York City for homes between $500,000 and $1.75 million.
3. Bad odors can keep a house from selling.
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Several realtors cited bad odors as a common reason for why a home won’t sell. Three agents noted that odors from cats in particular are bad news.
Residual scents from smoking can also pose a problem, said Jose Laya, who sells homes in Miami for between $800,000 and $2 million.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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SEE ALSO: 10 things real-estate agents wish they could tell you — but won’t
Source: Business Insider – kwarren@businessinsider.com (Katie Warren)