Your Listing Didn’t Sell. Now What? (The Playbook Top Agents Use)

    Understand Why It Didn’t Sell

    This year, even in traditionally strong seasons, listings are going stale. In Denver, for example, 35% of homes have sat unsold over 60 days as of April—nearly the highest nationwide in years. Across the U.S., there are nearly 500,000 more sellers than buyers, leading to growing inventory and mounting seller pressure.

    If your listing didn’t sell—you’re not alone. The following are the five‑step playbook top agents are using to relaunch listings, beat the buyer’s market, and finally get them across the finish line.

    Step 1: Price It Right from Day One

    Overpricing remains the top mistake. Bankrate notes that homes priced even slightly above market can deter buyers.  Reset pricing based on comparable “Days on Market” and recent sales.

    Action Step: Pull 3–5 comps from the past 60 days. Adjust price to sit within the top view band—but avoid pricing just under thresholds (e.g. $499K vs $500K).

    Step 2: Stage and Refresh the Listing

    Staging can cut time on market by up to 50% and add 6–20% in sale price. Remove clutter, add lighting upgrades, and repaint high-traffic walls.

    Action Step: Book a pro stager or DIY refresh. Replace dated fixtures, update floors, refresh landscaping.

    Step 3: Amplify Your Marketing

    In an oversupplied market, shine with professional photography, virtual tours, and targeted marketing.

    Action Step: Re-shoot with twilight or drone shots. Launch a targeted direct mail campaign to your geographic farm, supported with Facebook or Google ads and social media.

    Step 4: Build Urgency & Incentives

    Incentives like credits for closing costs or rate buydowns can spark interest when buyers hold back due to affordability.

    Action Step: Offer 1–2% home warranty or closing help. Highlight it in online marketing and open houses.

    Step 5: Track, Adapt, Repeat

    Measure all activity—traffic, feedback, price drop responses. Reassess every 14 days, and tweak marketing, price, or terms as needed.

    Action Step: Use your CRM or MLS to set reminders for timely check-ins.


    PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

    1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

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    2. The Free 2025 Quarterly Real Estate Marketing Guide

    Kickstart each quarter with the Quarterly Real Estate Marketing Guide, designed to help you achieve your real estate business goals. Packed with tools like a goal-setting sheet, monthly insights, tailored task lists, and marketing recommendations, this free guide is your ultimate resource for success—download it today for FREE! –Click Here

    3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Plan

    The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your goals.   – Click Here

    Lisa is an accomplished marketer with years of expertise in direct response marketing, digital marketing, data analytics and business development working with both B2C and B2B.