What to Do When Your Home Is on the Market Too Long

A home that sits on the market too long doesn’t hold much interest for potential buyers. Why would they be interested in something that it appears nobody else is interested in? People often assume that there is something wrong with a home that’s been sitting for a long time.

There are a variety of reasons why homes are on the market for a long time. If you find yourself in this undesirable situation, what can you do about it? Here are some ideas to help generate more interest in your home (and if you haven’t listed your home yet, here’s how to prevent this problem).

Advertising

Many potential buyers look for a home well in advance of an actual purchase. So they will definitely notice if the advertising for your home never changes. And then they’ll stop noticing your home at all. Here are some ways to shake things up:

    • Change the listing’s featured photo
    • If your photos aren’t up to par, hire a professional to take them
    • Update your property details and work with your agent to make them creative and interesting
    • Know what houses are your competition and write your listing accordingly
    • Figure out who your target market is and cater to their interests

Price

The number one reason a house doesn’t sell is that it’s overpriced. Informed buyers know the comps in your neighborhood (and their agents most certainly do too), so overpricing your house won’t fool anybody.

Remember, pricing your home fairly from the beginning will likely result in a higher sale price than pricing it too high and having to reduce it multiple times. If your home’s already listed at an inflated price, do some research and list it with a more realistic price.

Repairs

A buyer doesn’t want to have to worry about repairs right after moving into a new home. If you have a leaky faucet or windows that don’t close properly, just fix them. Your home will sell faster if you don’t have negotiate with buyers over these little repairs. And you won’t have to give credits or entertain lower offers because of minor repairs.

If potential buyers see something like a water spot on the walls or ceiling, they might assume you have a leak, even if that problem was fixed long ago. Make sure anything that looks like a possible problem (even if it’s not) is taken care of.

Also, think about curb appeal, because it sets potential buyers’ first impressions of your home. Spruce up your door with a new coat of paint, add new numbers to the side of your home, or clean up the shrubs and trees in your yard. These little things can make a big difference to those seeing your home for the very first time.

Home Showings

Make sure you’re flexible about showing your home. You need to have your home ready to show to buyers within 24 hours. Making your home difficult to show is a big problem for buyers because they’ll think you’re not serious about selling. If you must, give your agent days and times that work in advance.

If none of these things help your home sell, be open to advice. Ask real estate agents, property experts, or other objective third parties for their thoughts on why your home isn’t selling. They just might hit on the key to finding the perfect buyer.

Photo by Stephen Harris

My husband and I are looking at a house that has an HOA, but we never lived with one before so we are curious to know if there are benefits to having one. I liked how you pointed out that one good thing is that they will provide a landscape company to help with the yard work. It will be great not having to worry about spending all of our time doing it, but having it still look nice.

Very nice love the colors

I would love to have a tiny home to live in! It seems more manageable and affordable. The Hiatus in Oregon is beautiful. I love the wood floors. can you put a tiny house on any property? Thanks for the inspiration and information!

I have a home in Stamford CT and I am looking for someone to assume my mortgage. Not sure if you are interested in something like this based on what I saw on your website. Eric

Is it possible to buy a first home with a 580 credit score? The house is in Groton ct and is only $90,000