If your listing expired and your house didn’t sell, it’s natural to feel disappointed. You put your home on the market hoping to move forward. Now you’re left wondering what went wrong and what to do differently.
Before putting it back on the market, take a close look at three questions: Could buyers easily see it? Did it make a strong first impression? And was the price compelling compared with similar homes?
Review those questions with a trusted real estate agent. The goal is to understand what happened and decide what to reconsider before you relist.
1. Did You Limit Access to Your House?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when buyers can tour it. Minimal access means minimal exposure to potential buyers.
Being flexible matters, even when it’s inconvenient. Dropping what you’re doing and leaving home for a showing can feel stressful. Still, buyers need an opportunity to walk through the house before they can seriously consider it.
ShowingTime advises:
“. . . do your best to be as flexible as possible when granting access to your house for showings.”
Review the Schedule You Offered
Think back to the showing arrangements during your listing. Were buyers able to visit at a variety of times, or did they have to work around a narrow window?
Some of the most determined buyers may be traveling from far away. Those buyers might not be able to change their plans easily to fit limited showing hours. Making your house available as much as you reasonably can helps accommodate them.
Ask your agent to walk through the access you provided. Rather than simply saying you’ll be more flexible next time, discuss what that would actually look like.
- Which days and times were available for showings?
- Were there requests you couldn’t accommodate?
- Could you offer more options when you relist?
- How would you handle a request from a buyer traveling from out of town?
You don’t have to pretend showings are easy. The practical question is whether your arrangements gave interested buyers enough opportunity to see the home. If they couldn’t get inside, they couldn’t fully consider what you were selling.
2. Did Your House Make a Strong First Impression?
The old saying applies here: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. When selling your house, the exterior deserves just as much attention as the way you stage the rooms inside.
Start by looking at your home from the street. Freshening up the landscaping can improve curb appeal and help the property make an impact before a buyer reaches the front door.
As an article from U.S. News says:
“After all, if people drive by, but aren’t interested enough to walk through the front door, you’ll never sell your house.”
Start Outside, Then Walk Through Every Room
Take a fresh look at the exterior with your agent. What would you want a buyer to notice first? Does the landscaping support that impression, or is there something you should freshen up before relisting?
Then continue through the front door. A strong impression shouldn’t stop at the entrance.
Removing personal items and reducing clutter gives buyers more freedom to picture themselves living in the home. A new coat of paint or cleaning the floors can also go a long way toward freshening up a room.
Use a simple walkthrough to organize your review:
- Look at the landscaping and overall curb appeal.
- Identify personal items you could put away.
- Review each room for clutter you could remove.
- Discuss where fresh paint or floor cleaning would help.
Keep the discussion focused on presentation. What does a buyer see when approaching the house, opening the door and moving from room to room?
Ask your agent which changes they recommend before another round of showings. Use that conversation to create a clear list rather than trying to tackle everything without a plan.
3. Was Your Asking Price Compelling?
Setting the right price is extremely important. It can be tempting to push the asking price higher in hopes of maximizing your profit. But overpricing can scare buyers away and make it harder to sell quickly.
Business Insider notes:
“. . . the biggest mistake sellers make is overpricing their home.”
If your house is priced higher than other similar homes, buyers could lose interest. That makes the comparison with similar properties an important part of your conversation with your agent.
Review the Price Alongside Buyer Feedback
Ask your agent to revisit how your asking price compared with homes like yours. Then review what people said during open houses and showings.
Pay particular attention to repeated feedback. If many people are saying the same thing, it may be worth considering a lower price.
Keep these questions in front of you:
- How did your asking price compare with similar homes?
- What feedback did buyers give your agent?
- Did the same concerns come up repeatedly?
- Based on that feedback, should you reconsider the price?
The point is to examine the price honestly, not simply carry it over into the next listing without discussion. Work with your agent to decide whether an adjustment belongs in your relisting plan.
Build a Plan Before You Relist
A trusted real estate agent can offer expert advice on relisting and strategies aimed at getting your house sold. Bring the three areas together: access, presentation and price.
For each one, identify what happened during the previous listing and what you want to do differently. Write down the showing schedule you can offer, the presentation work you plan to complete and the pricing questions you need to resolve.
Your next step: Schedule a listing review with a trusted real estate agent before putting your house back on the market. Bring your questions and ask for a clear relisting plan. If you’d also like to talk through the mortgage side of your next move, reach out to Ed Parcaut.
