How to Sell an Unsellable House

Selling a property that feels “unsellable” or one that’s been given that label by estate agents can be frustrating. Not only is the process typically slow, expensive and emotionally draining, but it often seems like it will never end.

Whether your home needs a minor facelift or just a new approach to securing that sale, our guide points you in the right direction so you can sell your home and put the stress, delays and expense behind you.

With Sell House Fast, selling your home has never been easier, and with our streamlined route to sale, you’ll find there is no such thing as an unsellable house.

Let’s take a look at what you can do to help get that property sold.

What makes a house unsellable?

There can be many reasons a house could be deemed unsellable. From quirky décor that only suits your tastes to visible defects that put off even the keenest DIY experts, reasons a property isn’t selling can stem from minor details that irk a few buyers to substantial issues that deter everybody considering a new home.

You can transform your house from unsellable to sellable, but it takes an understanding of exactly what’s causing people to refrain from making an offer first. Otherwise, you could make changes to the home and still find yourself in the same situation.

Common reasons a house can be deemed unsellable include:

• House needs major renovation
• Damp or structural issues are present
• Poor location
• Overpriced for its condition
• House is of non-standard construction
• Too much personalisation and clutter

This list, of course, isn’t exhaustive; in some cases, you may even have offers made on the home that you accept, and then when it comes to surveys, structural issues, or other problems become apparent, leading to prospective buyers pulling out of the deal altogether.

Can you really sell an unsellable house?

There are a few routes to sale you can follow. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. We’ll run through those a little further down the page. The important thing to remember is that you must have realistic expectations. If the property is in dire need of extensive and expensive repairs, will completing these jobs pay off when you sell? Likewise, if you cannot afford the repairs, will you be willing to accept less than market value?

Having realistic expectations of value, a strategy that aligns with your selling goals and smart planning to ensure you can sell your home are essential. To help increase the chances of your unsellable house becoming more desirable, we’ve put together a collection of top tips below. These can all help make your property shine, no matter what sales path you follow.

Realistic pricing

If your home has been on the market for some time and isn’t getting offers, perhaps reconsider the price, especially if your home is in good condition and in a location where other properties seem to sell fast. A new extension or upgraded kitchen may add value to the home, but if you overprice it, you risk keeping buyers at bay.

Compare prices for your area to get an idea of how much homes are selling for and use free online valuation tools. This gives you a clearer idea of how you should price your home. Be wary of estate agents who overpromise and underdeliver. They may set a high value to make you think they will get you the best price, then your property sits with them for months with no interest.

From a buyer’s perspective, a property sitting on the market too long is often seen as a problem property, when in fact it’s perfectly fine. Strategic pricing helps avoid this.

Improve the first impressions

An unsellable house often remains unsellable because it isn’t attractive to those who may want to buy it. From peeling wallpaper to overgrown gardens and from cracked windows to messy floors, each plays a part in how a potential buyer sees your home. You want your home to look “move-in” ready without making it too much like a show home.

A simple decluttering and cleaning of each room is a good start, and where needed, a fresh touch of paint can hide any blemishes. It may be best to use neutral colours as it becomes much easier for buyers to visualise how they may make changes on a white wall than on something patterned or multi-coloured. This extends to the garden too. A trimmed lawn and a well-presented garden will work wonders in creating a good first impression.

Obvious wear and tear should also be repaired. Ignoring these small issues may make buyers think larger problems loom beneath the surface.

Rectify the bigger issues

From cosmetic problems to structural issues, they all have a bearing on whether your house will sell. If previous attempts to sell the home have fallen through due to issues found during searches or surveys, it’s a good idea to have them rectified. Depending on the level of work involved, this could necessitate high-level expenditure. Therefore, give it some thought. How much effort you put into fixing problems ultimately has a huge impact on whether your home sells and what it could sell for. Do you want a quick sale for a lower price, or would you prefer to make the house as perfect as possible and see it sell for more?

It’s also worth remembering that if your home is viewed as unsellable due to large-scale problems, traditional buyers will find it hard to secure a mortgage. This means you could be stuck in a permanent state of having a property listed for sale that can never sell, unless you make changes to it.

Take good photos

Whether you are trying to sell your house without an estate agent or relying on their expertise, the quality of photos showcasing your home plays a huge role in how sellable your house is. For many buyers, the first moment they learn your house is for sale is through photos, either online or in estate agent windows.

Ensure all rooms are free from clutter and look clean, capturing morning light if you can. Exterior shots are an excellent additional selling point, especially if you have a garden. A floor plan is also an excellent visual aid. It helps give viewers a clear idea of the layout and what changes they could make to the home.

Market it correctly

When you want to sell a property, you want eyes on it from the get-go. This means ensuring it appears on portals like Rightmove and Zoopla as well as in estate agent windows and on their websites. If selling without an estate agent, you’ll want to make sure social media pages, community noticeboards and local papers are utilised as much as possible.

Speak with your estate agent to see how they are marketing your property. Some agents may even sell packages that give you “premium” listings. Be wary, though, as we mentioned earlier, it can be very easy for agents to promise more than they deliver.

Be a positive and helpful host

If someone does make an offer, engage with them and be ready to answer a range of questions. Remain honest and be flexible so you can accommodate buyers during the evenings and at weekends.

The estate agent will field many questions from potential buyers, but feel free to give your own responses. If you stay too silent, a buyer may think there is something to hide and might not be fully sold on making an offer.

Alternative ways to sell an unsellable house

Selling an unsellable house is a challenge, especially if you go the traditional route with your local estate agent or their online colleagues. Unless you are willing to address many of the problems that have made it difficult for you to sell in the past, the estate agent route can often be a dead end. Regular home buyers don’t want to buy undesirable houses or those that require substantial work, especially if they are priced like other properties in the area that are in much better condition. Luckily, there are alternative routes to sale that make it much easier to sell quickly, albeit not always for market value.

Selling via auction

Selling an unsellable house at auction is often a great way to make a property deemed impossible to sell, sellable. Many attending auctions are property investors; they seek out houses, like yours, that may require a little extra work and a little extra time to make them close to perfect. This means you can avoid doing any extra work to the home, as they’ll buy it as is.

When selling a house via an auction, you’ll normally complete in 28-56 days, depending on the type of auction you choose. The sale, unfortunately, isn’t guaranteed, so you might be leaving the auction in the same position as you started. Furthermore, selling via auction isn’t free. You’ll have fees to pay, and these can be quite expensive, especially if you try to sell via auction on more than one occasion. All marketing materials will be created by the auction house, too, so you don’t have to worry about preparing anything in that regard.

Selling via a cash house buyer

A popular option for selling an unsellable house is with a cash house buyer. Companies like ours buy any house and offer cash for your property, regardless of location, condition or type and guarantee the sale. It’s all built around your needs with completion matching your timeframe. In some cases, you can sell in as little as seven days, and if you need longer to get your affairs in order, it’s not a problem.

Unlike estate agents or auction houses, there won’t be any fees to pay either. All your legal costs are covered by the company buying your home. This does mean you take a hit on the asking price, though. Houses sold through a cash house buyer won’t go for market value, but once you consider the amount you pay in estate agent fees, solicitor fees and for bringing the house up to a sellable standard for sale, the loss isn’t as significant as you might think. What’s more, the sale is guaranteed; unlike with auction houses or estate agents, where a sale can’t ever be promised.

Which option is right for me to sell an unsellable house?

There is no single “right way” to sell an unsellable house. The right way is the way that best suits your current situation. If you have the funds to upgrade the home and the time to rectify the issues, selling via an estate agent could be worthwhile. You’ll be more likely to achieve market value or higher. However, the expense may outweigh the return, meaning you’ve, in effect, spent money for nothing. Furthermore, you don’t have a guarantee that it will sell either, meaning it could all be a waste of money you could spend elsewhere.

If you can’t afford to conduct the repairs or maintenance, perhaps an auction would be a good option. If a bidding war starts, you could sell the home for more than you initially hoped. Although similar to an estate agent, the sale is not promised.

That leaves you with the option of a company like Sell House Fast. If certainty outweighs price, a cash house buyer like us gives you exactly what you need. You’ll sell your house regardless of its condition, and sell on your terms, meaning you complete when you want, for a price you’ve agreed on.

How to sell an unsellable house FAQs