The 4 Biggest Reasons Homes Don’t Sell (and How to Fix Them)
Putting your home on the market is an exciting step, but what happens when the weeks go by and there’s no interest, no viewings, or worse—no offers? If your home isn’t selling as expected, it’s usually down to one (or more) of these four key reasons. The good news - each of them has a solution!
If you are in this position you're not alone, in fact, its incredibly common - in 2024, 46% of properties that were placed on the market were later withdrawn without a sale being achieved!
To increase your chance of selling, and then getting your sale through to completion here are the four most common issues and what you need to do to fix them:
1. Overpricing – The Silent Deal Breaker
One of the most common reasons a property lingers on the market is being priced too high. We understand—it’s natural to want the best possible price for your home, but buyers today are highly informed.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Buyers compare your home to others in the same price range. If they see bigger, better, or more updated homes at a similar price, they’ll choose them instead.
- A high price reduces interest and viewings, leading to your home going “stale” on the market.
- Eventually, a price reduction might be necessary, but by then, buyers may assume something is wrong with the property, leading to lower offers than you’d originally hoped for.
✅ How to Fix It:
- Compare recent sold prices (not just asking prices) of similar properties.
- If you’re getting viewings but no offers, your price may be slightly too high.
- If you’re getting no viewings at all, buyers are ruling it out online before even stepping through the door.
2. Poor Marketing, Presentation & Market Exposure – Not Standing Out from the Crowd
Did you know that most buyers decide within seconds whether or not to book a viewing? If your property isn’t being marketed properly, you could be missing out on serious buyers.
Signs of Poor Marketing:
- Low-quality or limited photos that don’t showcase your home’s best features.
- No video, virtual tour or engaging content – today’s buyers expect more than just static photos.
- Weak property description that doesn’t highlight the true lifestyle benefits of your home.
- Limited exposure – is your agent just relying on Rightmove, or are they using social media, targeted ads, and video content to reach more buyers?
✅ How to Fix It:
- Ask your agent for professional photography and videography to enhance your listing.
- Make sure your home has a strong online presence, including Rightmove, Zoopla, and social media advertising.
- Consider using video marketing or a “first look” virtual tour to engage potential buyers before they visit.
💡 Did you know? Nicholsons uses targeted Facebook & Google ads to put properties directly in front of serious buyers who are actively looking for a home like yours!
3. Lack of Proactive Selling – Is Your Agent Doing Enough?
Selling a home isn’t just about listing it online and waiting for the right buyer—it requires a proactive strategy.
Red Flags That Your Agent Isn’t Doing Enough:
- You rarely hear from them, and when you do, there’s no clear action plan.
- There’s no follow-up on viewings – are they chasing potential buyers and getting useful feedback?
- Your home is getting little to no exposure beyond basic property portals.
- There’s no clear strategy to adjust and improve if things aren’t moving.
✅ How to Fix It:
- Expect at least fortnightly updates from your agent with insights on viewings, feedback, and next steps.
- If interest is low, ask what they’re doing differently to increase exposure.
- Make sure they’re not just “waiting” for a buyer but actively matching your property to potential buyers and following up on leads.
4. Sale Fall Throughs - Restarting from Square One
Once a sale has been agreed statistically there is a 1 in 3 chance your sale will fall through - leaving you to restart the process from square one. It's devastating, costing you months of time and thousands of pounds in abortive legal costs, survey and search fees.
The most common reasons that sales fall through:
- Buyers change their mind or find an alternative property that they prefer.
- A survey or mortgage valuation flags up an issue which cannot be resolved between the parties involved.
- The buyer has an inexplicable change in personal circumstances and can no longer proceed with the transaction.
✅ How to Fix It:
- At the same time as you're putting your home on the market instruct the solicitor you plan to use for your sale, fill out and return all of the paperwork that they send to you. Being sale ready in this way saves around 2 weeks in conveyancing time
- Gather together all of your home documentation like Gas Safe, FENSA and Electrical safety certificates. This will save further time and answer common legal questions early on in the transaction.
- Speak to your agent about putting a reservation agreement in place with an element of compensation built into the agreement. This ensures buyers are committed to buying your home from the start!
💡 Did you know? Nicholsons use SecureMove - an innovative service which includes a comprehensive Buyers Information Pack which includes legal forms, land registry documents and the searches for your property as well as a Reservation Agreement that awards our clients with £1000 in compensation if their buyer withdraws without justified reason. Find out more by clicking below 👇
What’s Next? Let’s Make Sure Your Home Gets Sold!
If your home isn’t selling, it’s not too late to turn things around. At Nicholsons, we’ve helped many sellers relaunch their property with better marketing, stronger pricing strategies, and a more proactive approach—often leading to a quicker sale at a great price.
Not sure if your agent is doing enough?
We offer a free, no-obligation strategy review to help you get back on track. You can speak with us on 01777 808777 / 01909 492299 or click below to either start a conversation on WhatsApp or book a home visit and valuation. 👇
