Is your home listed on the market for a little while now but you’re not getting a whole lot of action from prospective buyers? This might leave you anxious and asking: "Why is my house not selling?"

The most typical causes for a home to linger on the market longer than planned have often more to do with the financial side of the deal, rather than the house itself. 

As of May 2023, residences in the United States were on the market for a typical 43 days, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED). This is a tiny bump compared to the buying frenzy in June 2021, when properties were on the market for a median of just 35.5 days.

This variation could be related to several variables, such as swings in housing prices, changes in inventory levels, and alterations in buyer behavior.

In this post, we will look into the 22 most common reasons your home isn’t selling and offer practical advice on what you can do to turn things around.

When To Worry About House Not Selling?

Selling a house is a huge task, and it’s normal to be anxious if it isn’t selling as soon as you want.

Here are the important indicators to watch for when your house is on the market, indicating it could be time to worry:

• Above Average Days On Market: If your house has been on the market much longer than the current typical days for your area, it could be a cause for concern. As of May 2023, the median days on the market for U.S. homes was 43 days. If your home has been listed for much longer than this without generating serious bids, it might be time to reevaluate your strategy.
• Few Showings Or Low Online Interest: Another clue that you might need to be concerned about is if your home isn’t receiving many showings or if the online listing isn’t generating much interest. This could signal that buyers aren’t finding your house appealing, and it might be related to the pricing, the quality of the images, or the way the property is being advertised.
• Repeated Negative Feedback: If you’re receiving repeated negative feedback from potential buyers about certain parts of your house, such as the layout, condition, or pricing, this could hint that modifications are needed.
• Changes In The Market: It’s check the wider market developments. If sales are dropping nationally, or if inventory levels are rising, as was the situation in 2022, it might be more difficult to sell your property quickly.
• Shifts In Home Prices: If home prices in your neighborhood are decreasing, and your home is valued based on previous higher values, potential buyers might regard it as overpriced. In 2023, median housing prices have declined somewhat.

22 Reasons Why Your Home Might Not Be Selling

The real estate market is complex and various factors contribute to the saleability of a property. These factors can include an overvalued listing, a slow market, essential renovations, inadequate marketing, or even the lack of a skilled real estate agent.

Additionally, external factors such as economic trends, mortgage rates, and seasonal swings might also play an impact.

Here are 22 reasons why your home isn’t selling:

1. Your Listing Price is Too High

If your house is advertised higher than what buyers expect for your location, you lose the interest of a significant group of potential buyers. To find out if your home is pricey, you need to perform some study.

You can look up recent sales in your neighborhood to see what similar properties have sold for. If you can identify a property in your neighborhood that recently sold with a similar square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, this is a good guess for the worth of your home. It’s also a good idea to consult your real estate agent for their views.

If your property is overvalued, the best thing you can do is drop the price to be more in line with other homes in the neighborhood. This will make your home more desirable to purchasers and more likely to sell.

2. The Market Is Slow, and Buyers Aren’t Looking

In the US, we are seeing home values plummet and housing markets cool across the country. This could be a key reason why your house isn’t selling.

If the market in your area is slow, it could take longer for your home to sell, especially at the price you are hoping for. This is often out of your control, but you still have options.

Lowering the listing price, offering incentives, or being flexible on the closing date will help sell your home in a weak market. You might also consider renting out your home until the market picks back up.

3. Your Home Needs Repairs

Unless you’re deliberately marketing your house as an as-is fixer-upper, if your home needs repairs, it could be repelling potential buyers. Before putting your property on the market, fix any serious issues such as leaks, cracks, or holes in the walls. You should also consider making cosmetic adjustments like painting the walls or upgrading the fixtures.

These adjustments will make your property more desirable to buyers and help it sell faster.

4. Your Home Isn’t Staged Well

Your home might not be selling because you didn’t spend time arranging for photos and showings. The way you stage your home can determine how soon it sells.

If your home is cluttered or messy, it will be hard for purchasers to perceive its potential.

Organize and deep clean your property before marketing it. You should also consider hiring a professional stager to assist you arrange furniture and décor in a way that is attractive to the eye.

Taking the time to properly stage your house will make it more attractive to buyers and boost the likelihood of selling quickly.

5. The House Photos Are Poor Quality

In today’s digital environment, most buyers start their property hunt online. This means that the images of your home are highly crucial. If the images are dark, grainy, or taken from unusual angles, it will turn buyers off and make them less likely to want to see your home in person.

Make sure you hire a professional photographer to shoot high-quality images of your home. These images should show your home’s best qualities and make it look as inviting as possible.

6. Your Home Isn’t In A Desirable Location

If your home is in a bad location, it could take longer to sell. This is normally out of your control, but there are certain things you can do to reduce the impact.

One thing you can do is make sure that your home is well-maintained. This will help it stand out from other homes nearby and make it more appealing to buyers. You should also highlight any favorable characteristics of the location in your listing. For example, if your home is close to good schools or parks, be sure to mention it.

While you can’t change the location of your property, you may still take steps to make it more desirable to buyers.

7. Your House Has Poor Curb Appeal

The first thing potential buyers will see when they visit your property is the outside. If your home has poor curb appeal, it could discourage buyers before they even step inside.

To increase your curb appeal, start by tidying up the yard. Remove any dead plants or weeds and cut the lawn. You should also consider adding some potted plants or flowers to offer a splash of color.

Then, focus your attention on the outside of the house itself. Wash the windows and doors and pressure wash the siding if necessary. These minor modifications can make a major difference in how enticing your house looks to buyers.

8. The Home Has An Outdated Style

When a home’s decor is outdated, the first thing a buyer thinks about is having major upgrades.

If your home’s style is out of style, there are a few things you can alter to make it more attractive to buyers. One thing you may do is upgrade the fixtures and hardware around the house. This includes things like door handles, light fixtures, and cabinet knobs.

You might also try painting the walls or changing out the flooring. These renovations will involve more time and money, but they can truly assist in modernizing your property and make it more appealing to buyers.

These modifications are relatively affordable and can make a great difference in the overall design of your property.

9. You Have An Emotional Connection To The Home

It’s natural to develop an emotional attachment to your property. After all, it’s where you’ve made so many memories. But when the time comes to sell your home, you need to be able to distance yourself from that emotional connection. After all, you could be sabotaging yourself without even recognizing it.

If you’re having problems detecting whether you are sabotaging yourself out of emotion, it could help to think about why you’re selling in the first place.

Are you moving to a new job?

Do you need a bigger house?

Are you having financial issues?

Once you have a clear grasp of your reasons for selling, it will be simpler to let go of the emotional attachment.

It’s also important to realize that your home is only a physical construction. The memories you’ve built there will always be with you, no matter where you reside.

10. You’re Not Willing To Negotiate

If you’re not ready to compromise on the price of your property, it could be taking longer to sell. In today’s market, purchasers are searching for a good bargain, and if you’re not ready to budge on the price, they’ll move on to another house.

It’s crucial to remember that the goal is to sell your property, not to make a set amount of money. If you’re not getting any bites at your asking price, it might be time to lower it. Even if you have to take a little less than you wanted, it’s better than having your home sit on the market for months with no offers.

11. Small Issues, But Major Annoyances For Buyers

While some parts of your house are huge selling points, others might be tiny faults that are major annoyances for purchasers. These might include a door that sticks, a loose doorknob, or a dripping faucet.

While these concerns might appear insignificant, they can be huge turn-offs for purchasers. Not only are they irritating, but they also create the appearance that the house hasn’t been well-maintained.

To avoid turning buyers off with little flaws, take the time to remedy them before putting your house on the market. This will show buyers that you’ve taken good care of your home and that any concerns have been resolved.

12. Lack Of Natural Light

Most people like homes that are filled with natural light. It makes the space feel more open and inviting. If your home doesn’t have a lot of natural light, it could make it tougher to sell.

There are a few things you can do to make your home brighter and more inviting to buyers. One thing you may do is wash all of the windows to bring in as much natural light as possible. You might also try adding skylights or solar tubes to lighten the space.

Another thing you might do is paint the walls in lighter hues. This will help to reflect any available light and make the place feel brighter.

13. Strange Or Unusual Layout

Some homes have a layout that is simply plain weird or unusual. This can be a turn-off for purchasers because it makes the area feel less useful. If your home has an odd layout, it might be more challenging to sell it.

There are a few things you can do to make an odd layout more enticing to buyers. One thing you may do is change the furniture to make the space feel more open and inviting. You might also try removing unnecessary partitions to create a more open design.

Another thing you may do is stage the property in a way that makes the most of the available space. This will assist purchasers to see the possibilities in the home and envisage themselves living there.

14. The Neighborhood Isn’t Appealing

If the community your home is in isn’t appealing, it could be making it tougher to sell. There are a few things that can make an area less desirable, such as high crime rates, lousy schools, or a lack of amenities.

If you live in an area that isn’t appealing, there’s not much you can do to change that. However, you can strive to highlight the positive qualities of the place in your marketing materials. For example, if the neighborhood is close to downtown, you might emphasize its convenience.

You might also try to appeal to customers looking for a fixer-upper. If the homes in the region are run-down, buyers can see it as an opportunity to get a good deal on a property.

15. Dark History

Death or suicide in the home can make it tougher to sell. If a home has a bad history, it can be off-putting for purchasers.

If your home has a terrible history, there’s not much you can do to remedy that. However, you can try to downplay the issue in your marketing materials. For example, if the home was formerly owned by a celebrity, you can emphasize that element instead of any tragic occurrences that might have occurred there.

16. Poor First Impression

Even if you have terrific photographs, outstanding curb appeal, and a well-written description, buyers might not even bother looking at your house if it doesn’t make a strong first impression when they cross the threshold to have an in-person look.

Things like foul scents, unruly pets, clutter, and personal things may all make a home feel less inviting. If your home made a terrible first impression, it could make it harder to sell.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your home provides a good first impression. One thing you may do is make sure the place is clean and free of any unwanted odors. You should also remove personal objects, such as family photos or keepsakes.

Another thing you can do is make sure the space is well-lit and that there’s no clutter. This will help the space feel more open and inviting.

Need staging tips to make your home look more appealing? Check this out!

17. It’s Not Move-In Ready

If your home isn’t move-in ready, it could be harder to sell it. Buyers might not want to invest in the work required to make it habitable or they simply `might not have the budget to do so.

There are a few things you can do to make your home more move-in-ready. One thing you may do is perform any essential repairs, such as mending leaky faucets or filling holes in the walls. You should also tidy the space and eliminate any personal possessions.

Another thing you may do is stage the home so that it seems more inviting and desirable. This will help homebuyers see the potential in the house and visualize themselves living there.

18. Bad Marketing Strategy

If you’re utilizing a lousy marketing plan, it could be making it tougher to sell your home. There are a few elements that might make a marketing strategy less effective, such as employing obsolete methods or not reaching the correct audience.

There are a few things you can do to boost your marketing approach. One thing you can do is make sure you’re using contemporary strategies to sell your home. This involves leveraging social media and internet listing platforms.

Another thing you can do is make sure you’re targeting the proper audience. For example, if you’re attempting to sell a fixer-upper property, you should market it to buyers interested in fixer-uppers, not move-in-ready homes. Don’t leave anything to surprise them when they see it in person.

19. Underperforming Real Estate Agent

If you’re hiring an underperforming real estate agent, it could be making it tougher to sell your house. There are a few variables that can make an agent less productive, such as not having adequate experience or not being knowledgeable about the local market.

There are a few things you can do to improve your real estate agent’s performance. One thing you may do is supply them with more information about your home and what you’re looking for in a sale. This will help them better understand your needs and customize their marketing plan accordingly.

You may also ask for feedback or updates from your agent frequently. This will help you to measure their progress and determine if there are any areas where they can improve.

20. Moldy, Mildewy, Musty = No Go

If your home has mold, mildew, or musty odors, you may have a hard time selling it as well. These problems can be off-putting to potential buyers, and they can also be an indicator of more significant difficulties, such as water damage.

There are a few things you may do to get rid of mold, mildew, and musty odors. One thing you can do is clean the affected areas with a mixture of bleach and water. You should also make sure that the space is well-ventilated and use a dehumidifier so that the problem doesn’t come back.

Another thing you may do is address any underlying issues that might be producing mold, mildew, or musty stench. For example, if there’s a water leak, you should remedy it as quickly as feasible.

21. Not Holding Open Houses

One of the reasons why your home might not be selling is that you’re not conducting open houses. Open houses allow potential buyers to see your home in person and get a feel for the place.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your open houses are effective. One thing you may do is market them in advance. This will help to get people in the door.

Ensuring your home is tidy and attractive is another thing you can do. Decluttering, staging, and doing any required repairs fall under this category.

Additionally, make sure that you or your realtor respond to any inquiries from prospective purchasers.

22. Not Providing Rewards

Offering no incentives may make the selling of your house more difficult. Offering incentives to prospective buyers can sweeten the pot and increase the likelihood that they will select your home over others for sale.

You can provide different incentives, such as offering a house warranty. This will pay for repairs for a predetermined amount of time following the sale.

Offering to cover closing costs is an additional option. The buyer will be able to save money on their purchase thanks to this.

A discount could also be extended to purchasers who are prepared to close swiftly or with cash.

Bottom Line

There are several things you may try to speed up the process if you're wondering why your house isn't selling.

Examine your house from the buyer's point of view and see what improvements you may make to improve its appeal. After that, concentrate on selling them in a style that will draw potential purchasers. You should be able to sell your house fast with a little work.

Whether you're just getting started or trying to replace a perform-poor agent you already have, 

our team at RE/MAX Advanced Realty is here to help! 

RE/MAX Advanced Realty makes it easy to compare top-performing agents in your region and select the best fit.

We can share recent sales information, testimonials from customers, biographies, and more so you know what to expect when you work with us.

Plus, you'll have all the tools necessary to sell your house fast and at a top dollar.

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