The listing contract with the Realtor is about to expire. Do you re-list right away?

Some people think its wise to wait, some people have it re-listed the very next day. I'll ask you that  question,  think about your answer, and then I'll tell you an experience that I had with a seller. Your answer may change.  

One day in October, I ran across a listing that had just expired. The house looked pretty neat, and I wondered why it didn't sell, so I called up the owner.  I asked her about her home, and she invited me over to look, but was adamant about not listing it right away. The property was on the market for a good seven and a half months, and with a VERY Good agent,  AND the holidays were coming up. So who is going to buy her house now? And yes, she  may have had a point or two.

As I looked at the listing, I saw that some of the very best marketable features of her home were nowhere to be found! I saw that the listing wasn't filled out as well as it could be, and I am pretty particular about everything being as descriptive and informative as it can be, and as truthful as it can be on the listing so the most interested and best qualified buyers come to see it.

This home had  a stone turret and an incredible amount of charm with rolling acreage and lots of privacy, yet in a very easy location. None of that was brought out on the listing.  A house with a two and a half story stone turret, and the picture of the property didn't focus on it? You couldn't miss it once you drove up. And that's one of those things that you either REALLY like, or REALLY hate. There's not an in-between.  So I told the owner what I thought. She was this great Irish lady with a thick accent. I told her  that if she wanted to sell the home,  that we shouldn't wait, and that we should get it on the market as soon as possible. And I said, "No one is going to buy  your home if they don't know that it's available". She heeded my advice, I brought out the finer unique points of her home, and it sold close to asking in less than three weeks, and that was right before the holidays. Oh and by the way, I didn't reduce the price. It didn't need it!

Her house may have sat on the market for another seven months had she not listened to my advice. Instead, the house sold and she got to move into a nice condominium.

So if your homes listing contract is about to expire, and you haven't had any bites, or very few showings, take a look at the listing. Better yet, have me take a look at the listing- and don't give the house a rest on marketing. No one will buy your home if it's it's not actively and appropriately marketed by a great agent. That's me!