Your home is on the market to sell. In the last three months, youve had only a few lookers, but nothings happened. You keep thinking, what will help it sell?

Youve put out flyers. Youre planning an open house. Recently, youve dropped the price a little. Your house is still for sale. The days on the market continue to climb.

Its time to regroup.

Home buying is picking up as we come out of the winter months. However, the homeownership rate is expected to only increase by two percent this year. The increase will be generated between March and August, due to the end of school and relocations.

Economists advise sellers to stay ahead of the pricing curve. In this marketplace, you need to be a pro-active seller by pricing your home in advance of the other homes in the neighborhood. Real estate is a local business, and price is affected by local activity. In many areas, there are more available homes than buyers.

New home sales are also hurting the resale of pre-existing homes. Construction is up, and home builders offer incentives to the buyers that makes it more difficult for the resale market.

In other words, theres a lot of tough competition.

But there are other reasons why homes stay on the active list and dont sell. The three top reasons are pricing, condition and location. Simply lowering the asking price will help bring more qualified buyers. Its not uncommon to hear the old adage from sellers, Theres a buyer for every home. But with that train of thought, many buyers who are best suited for the house are not able to buy it due to overpricing.

The fact is that buyers, not sellers, determine the market value of the home. Comparables show the solds in the subdivision, and value is based on the solds, not the actives. You can start your listing well above comparable properties in the neighborhood, but at some point, youll have to re-evaluate the value of your home. The buyers end up telling you what your house is worth.

Most licensed Realtors, and also Internet savvy consumers, will see your listing in the first 30 days. If its overpriced as little as five percent, interest in the property will dwindle. It will especially slow down if there is no indication that the seller will not come off the asking price.

Keep in mind that if a buyer submits an offer at the inflated listing price, the property may not appraise, and financing will fall apart.

Sometimes, its an advantage if a buyer goes ahead and submits an offer on a home. The buyer should already know what he can afford, and should stay within those guidelines lines. The seller can accept the offer or reject it. Often, the seller comes back at a set price. The buyer can choose to accept the sellers response, counter back or walk away.

In some listings, the professional Realtor suggested the price. If its overpriced, Realtors will also use that listing to help sell another similar house that is priced lower. In this scenario, your home is not competing well.

If your home stays on the market too long, buyers and Realtors may begin to wonder why the home isnt selling. Are there problems, such as insurance issues or damages inside the house? The house becomes shopworn, just like clothing that remains on a rack and doesnt sell. People end up skipping homes that stay on the market way too long.

Another reason why homes stay on the market is that they dont show well. Some Realtors often use the phrase staging a home. With a few touches of moving couches and chairs, the home can look more inviting. Also, lighting (lamps or open blinds) helps enable buyers to see rooms.

Sometimes, its necessary to makeover a dated home to help it sell. A little cosmetic treatment, such as paint or carpet, helps make it sell. A new coat of paint can make things look fresh and smell fresh. The money spent could well be the best return on the investment.

The most important, and at the top of the list, is to have the house clean. A dated house that is spic and span can sell. Clean the bathrooms and the kitchen. Clean the entire house.

A good Realtor can advise you on where your time and money should be spent. Again, price and condition are the two things a seller can do something about.

In real estate, the seller is battling competition and the market conditions. In a hot market, or sellers market, homes go fast. Chances are youd get your asking price, and its not uncommon to get more than the listing price. But in a flat, cold or buyers market, sales are slow. In a tough market, be prepared to settle for less than top dollar. You can wait until the pendulum swings in your favor, but you need to decide when you want to sell.

The Internet has changed the face of real estate. According to the National Association of Realtors, today more than one-third of all homebuyers use the Internet for house hunting.

If your house isnt selling, perhaps its time to study the reasons. Condition and a competitive listing price could point more interested buyers to your doorstep. The market is heading toward its seasonal high, so present your home so that it sells.