Selling a home is not a simple decision for any California home owner to make; in fact, many people are attached to their home and have a hard time saying goodbye. Many buyers think that simply because their neighbor's home listed at the same time as theirs, it is more difficult to make the sale; this is not the case. So, why did your neighbor's house sell before yours? These are some of the real reasons behind the fact that their home sold, and yours didn't.

It's A Better Home, Overall

Sometimes there is no beating around the bush, especially in a competitive market like San Diego's. If their home had an extra room, an extra bedroom, a bonus room or den, if the kitchen was new, had fresh paint, and the home was more modern than yours, these are obvious reasons it sold before your home did. Further, if you do not have the money to stage or hire a professional to help you in selling the home, this is going to work against you as well.

They Priced It Correctly From Day One

Again, the market conditions and local asking prices where you live will drive the price at which your home will sell, and how quickly it is going to sell. If your neighbor's home is the same size, same condition, and has been maintained similarly to yours, but they are asking $5000 less than you, for a home on the same exact block, it is quite obvious as to why it sold faster. Some sellers simply aren't willing to accept the fact that their home is not worth what they are asking for it; and, even if it is, if similar homes are listed for a lower price, theirs just won't sell. So, consider price adjustment if this is the only difference between your home and your neighbor's home which just sold.

You're Too Attached To The Home

If your neighbor is prepared to sell, is willing to sell, the home has been staged, and has done the work to get the home sold, it is going to sell. If you are doing these things, then it's quite obvious as to why their home sold and yours did not.:

• leaving up family photos
• leave unpacked boxes everywhere
• simply don't want to do the work or properly stage the home

If you aren't prepared, or simply not ready to let go, then local buyers are going to realize this, and they are never going to make an offer. So, bringing yourself to the point where you are ready to sell and stage the home is essential if you want it to sell, and want local buyers to take the home off your hands.

There are several reasons why one home on a block might sell faster than others. As noted above, some reasons are more obvious than others. With this said, if you are trying to sell your home fast, and local homes in the area keep selling before yours, consider working with a professional realtor and staging company, to see if this will make the difference in finally getting an offer you are willing to accept as a seller.