You listed your home weeks ago—maybe even months ago. You’ve had a few showings, maybe even an open house or two. But no offers. Or worse, lowball offers that insult the value you know your home has.
You’re frustrated. You’re confused. And you’re starting to wonder: What’s wrong with my house?
Here’s the truth: There’s probably nothing wrong with your house. But there might be something wrong with how it’s being marketed, priced, or presented.
At Katie Burke Homes, I’ve helped dozens of sellers revive stalled listings and get them sold—often for more than they expected. Here’s what’s usually going wrong, and exactly how to fix it.
The 5 Most Common Reasons Homes Don’t Sell
1. You’re Overpriced for the Market
The Problem:
This is the #1 reason homes sit. Even if your neighbor sold for $X last year, or you have $Y invested in renovations, the market doesn’t care. Buyers compare your home to everything else available right now—and if you’re priced higher than comparable homes, they’ll simply move on.
This is the #1 reason homes sit. Even if your neighbor sold for $X last year, or you have $Y invested in renovations, the market doesn’t care. Buyers compare your home to everything else available right now—and if you’re priced higher than comparable homes, they’ll simply move on.
Warning Signs:
- Lots of showings in the first two weeks, then activity drops off
- Buyers’ agents aren’t scheduling second showings
- You’re getting feedback like “overpriced” or “didn’t see the value”
- Comparable homes are selling while yours sits
How to Fix It:
Price correction—and fast. Every week your home sits on the market, it becomes “stale” and buyers wonder what’s wrong with it. I’ll provide a comprehensive market analysis showing you exactly where your home should be priced based on current competition, recent sales, and market trends. A strategic price reduction (not a tiny $5K drop) can reignite interest and generate multiple offers.
Price correction—and fast. Every week your home sits on the market, it becomes “stale” and buyers wonder what’s wrong with it. I’ll provide a comprehensive market analysis showing you exactly where your home should be priced based on current competition, recent sales, and market trends. A strategic price reduction (not a tiny $5K drop) can reignite interest and generate multiple offers.
2. Your Marketing Is Invisible (or Terrible)
The Problem:
In today’s market, 97% of buyers start their search online. If your listing photos are dark, blurry, or shot on a smartphone—or if your marketing is limited to just the MLS—you’re essentially invisible to the buyers who matter.
In today’s market, 97% of buyers start their search online. If your listing photos are dark, blurry, or shot on a smartphone—or if your marketing is limited to just the MLS—you’re essentially invisible to the buyers who matter.
Warning Signs:
- Few or no online inquiries
- Low showing activity from the start
- Your listing photos look amateur compared to other homes
- No social media presence or targeted advertising
How to Fix It:
Invest in professional marketing. This means:
Invest in professional marketing. This means:
- Professional photography with proper lighting and staging
- Drone footage for properties with land or unique features
- Video tours or 3D virtual walkthroughs
- Targeted social media advertising to reach qualified buyers
- Email campaigns to my network of buyers and agents
- Premium placement on real estate platforms
At Katie Burke Homes, I invest in making your home stand out online—because that’s where buyers are looking. Your home should look like the best option, not an afterthought.
3. Your Home Shows Poorly
The Problem:
Buyers make decisions based on emotion, and if your home doesn’t feel right when they walk in, they won’t make an offer—no matter how good the bones are. Clutter, odors, poor lighting, dated decor, or deferred maintenance can all kill a sale.
Buyers make decisions based on emotion, and if your home doesn’t feel right when they walk in, they won’t make an offer—no matter how good the bones are. Clutter, odors, poor lighting, dated decor, or deferred maintenance can all kill a sale.
Warning Signs:
- Showings are happening, but no second showings or offers
- Feedback mentions “needs work,” “cluttered,” or “smells musty”
- Buyers spend less than 10 minutes in your home
- You’re living in the home while it’s listed (pets, kids, daily life)
How to Fix It:
Stage and prep like a pro. Here’s what works:
Stage and prep like a pro. Here’s what works:
- Declutter ruthlessly: Remove personal items, excess furniture, and anything that makes spaces feel small
- Deep clean everything: Carpets, windows, baseboards, appliances—everything should sparkle
- Neutralize odors: No pet smells, cooking odors, or air fresheners (buyers are suspicious of heavy scents)
- Improve lighting: Replace dim bulbs, open curtains, add lamps to dark corners
- Make minor repairs: Fix leaky faucets, patch holes, touch up paint
- Stage key rooms: Living room, master bedroom, and kitchen should look like a model home
I provide a detailed prep checklist and can connect you with professional stagers if needed. Sometimes spending $1,000 on staging yields $10,000+ in sale price.
4. You’re Restricting Showings
The Problem:
I get it—having your home on the market is disruptive. But if you’re requiring 24-hour notice, blocking off evenings and weekends, or making it difficult for buyers to see your home, you’re losing sales. Buyers are shopping multiple homes, and if yours isn’t convenient, they’ll make an offer on one that is.
I get it—having your home on the market is disruptive. But if you’re requiring 24-hour notice, blocking off evenings and weekends, or making it difficult for buyers to see your home, you’re losing sales. Buyers are shopping multiple homes, and if yours isn’t convenient, they’ll make an offer on one that is.
Warning Signs:
- Low showing activity despite good pricing and marketing
- Buyers’ agents mention difficulty scheduling showings
- You’ve declined showing requests due to timing
- Your home isn’t available during peak showing times (evenings/weekends)
How to Fix It:
Be flexible—extremely flexible. The easier you make it for buyers to see your home, the faster it will sell. Consider:
Be flexible—extremely flexible. The easier you make it for buyers to see your home, the faster it will sell. Consider:
- Using a lockbox for agent access
- Allowing same-day showing requests
- Keeping your home “show-ready” at all times
- Leaving during showings (buyers feel more comfortable exploring without you there)
- Being available evenings and weekends
Yes, it’s inconvenient. But it’s temporary—and it works. Homes that are easy to show sell faster and for more money.
5. Your Agent Isn’t Doing Their Job
The Problem:
This is the hardest one to hear, but it’s often true. If your agent isn’t communicating regularly, providing feedback from showings, adjusting strategy based on market response, or actively marketing your property, you’re not getting the service you deserve.
This is the hardest one to hear, but it’s often true. If your agent isn’t communicating regularly, providing feedback from showings, adjusting strategy based on market response, or actively marketing your property, you’re not getting the service you deserve.
Warning Signs:
- You haven’t heard from your agent in weeks
- You’re not receiving feedback from showings
- Your agent hasn’t suggested any strategy changes despite lack of offers
- You’re doing most of the work (scheduling, coordinating, following up)
- Your agent has dozens of other listings and you feel like a number
How to Fix It:
Switch agents. Yes, you can do this—even if you’re under contract. Depending on your listing agreement terms, you may be able to terminate or wait until it expires and relist with someone who will actually work for you.
Switch agents. Yes, you can do this—even if you’re under contract. Depending on your listing agreement terms, you may be able to terminate or wait until it expires and relist with someone who will actually work for you.
At Katie Burke Homes, I provide:
- Weekly (or more frequent) updates on showing activity and feedback
- Proactive strategy adjustments based on market response
- Personal involvement in every aspect of your sale
- Aggressive marketing and negotiation on your behalf
- Honest advice, even when it’s not what you want to hear
You deserve an agent who treats your home like it’s their only listing—because your sale matters.
The Katie Burke Homes Revival Process
If your home isn’t selling, here’s exactly what I do to turn it around:
Step 1: Honest Market Analysis
I’ll review your current listing, analyze the competition, and give you straight talk about what’s working and what’s not. No sugarcoating, no excuses—just facts.
Step 2: Strategic Repositioning
Based on market data and buyer feedback, we’ll adjust pricing, marketing, or presentation to make your home the obvious choice for buyers.
Step 3: Marketing Relaunch
We’ll treat your listing like a brand-new property with fresh photos, new marketing materials, and a targeted campaign to reach buyers who haven’t seen it yet.
Step 4: Aggressive Showing Strategy
We’ll make your home as accessible as possible and ensure every showing is followed up with feedback so we can continue refining our approach.
Step 5: Expert Negotiation
When offers start coming in (and they will), I’ll negotiate aggressively to get you the best price and terms possible.
Don’t Let Your Home Become a Market Statistic
Every day your home sits on the market, you’re losing money—in carrying costs, market perception, and negotiating power. But the good news? Most stalled listings can be fixed with the right strategy and the right agent.
If your home isn’t selling, let’s figure out why—and fix it.
Contact Katie Burke Homes today for a free, no-obligation listing evaluation. Let’s get your home sold.