1) Pricing that chases the market

Overpricing is still the number one issue. Buyers compare everything. When a home is priced above its true market position, it does not get more time. It gets ignored.

The first two weeks matter most. Miss that window, and the home often ends up reducing later, signalling hesitation rather than strength.

2) Condition that creates friction

Buyers can handle work. They cannot handle uncertainty.

Deferred maintenance, dated finishes, clutter, or obvious wear raise questions. Even small issues feel bigger when buyers are already cautious. A home does not need to be perfect, but it does need to feel cared for and predictable.

• Unfinished repairs that suggest bigger hidden issues
• Strong odours (pets, smoke, cooking) that linger in showings
• Lighting that makes rooms feel smaller or gloomy
• Visible wear that reads as “this home has been neglected”

3) Poor presentation and photos

Most buyers decide whether to book a showing in seconds.

Dark photos, inconsistent staging, awkward angles, or missing key rooms stop momentum before it starts. Presentation is not cosmetic fluff. It is buyer psychology.

If your online listing does not clearly show layout, flow, and value, you lose showings before anyone even steps inside.

4) Location realities not addressed properly

Every location has trade-offs. Busy roads, limited parking, or nearby development are not deal-breakers, but ignoring them is.

Strong listings acknowledge context and position the home honestly. Weak listings pretend buyers will not notice.

They always notice.

5) Timing and market mismatch

Markets move in cycles. Listing without understanding current demand, seasonal patterns, and buyer sentiment can stall a sale unnecessarily.

What worked last spring may not work this winter. Strategy needs to match the moment, not the memory.

6) Rigid terms and limited access

Buyers want flexibility. Limited showing windows, inflexible closing dates, or complicated conditions reduce interest quickly.

If a buyer cannot see it easily, they will move on easily.

• Short showing windows that exclude working buyers
• Restrictions that make booking difficult
• Unrealistic closing dates that eliminate otherwise qualified buyers
• Tenant-occupied logistics not structured clearly

7) No backup plan

Homes that sell well usually have a Plan B defined before listing.

That could mean a pricing adjustment schedule, a targeted relaunch plan, or a clear decision point. Listings without guardrails tend to drift, and drift kills confidence.

The takeaway

A hard-to-sell home is rarely unsellable. It is usually misaligned.

When pricing, preparation, presentation, and timing work together, even challenging properties move. When they do not, the market responds swiftly and without mercy.

Clear context leads to better decisions. Better decisions lead to cleaner outcomes.