Why Some Homes Take Months To Sell

Posted on 1/23/2026, 7:53:04 PM

Why is it that some homes sell immediately, while others take months to sell? It's a question that bugs many sellers throughout their adult lives, and particularly real estate investors. In this post, we take a specific look at why some homes take a long time to sell and what you can do about it. 

The price is anchored to the past

One of the reasons a lot of homes take a long time to sell is because the price is anchored to the past. The current owner believes that the property is still worth what it was five years ago when it isn't, and there's been a downturn. 

If you're in this position, the best approach is to simply be honest about your situation. If the market isn't going to support the price that you're asking for, then you'll need to lower it. This particularly applies to luxury properties. 

First impressions are killing the sales

Another reason homes can take a long time to sell is that first impressions are killing the sale. Many properties look good when buyers see them online and view the nice photographs, but the reality doesn't always match up. If this is a situation that you're in, then make sure that you:

1. Dim the lighting
2. Remove clutter
3. Avoid awkward angles

Make sure that the real-life impression that buyers get is the same as the impression they get online. If there's a mismatch, it can disrupt their expectations and lead to disappointment. 

The location is now a problem

Perhaps when you bought your home, the location was fine, but if it's now a problem, then that's a serious issue for you and the ability to sell it. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about your property zoning. What you can do though is go to a service that will buy the house and provide you with fair value. 

If we buy houses, we always look beyond the immediate problems of the neighborhood. The same is true of many other investors. Often, it's just a question of adjusting the price so that it reflects the new risks. 

It's priced wrong so that it misses everyone

Sometimes a property won't sell simply because it's priced wrong and in a way that just misses everybody. For example, it might miss various search brackets, e.g., some people might be looking for properties over $250,000, while others might be looking for properties under $225,000. If your listing is in the $225,000 to $250,000 range, then you're automatically being excluded from search results.

The way around this is to go to your platform analytics to check what people are looking for. If you find that they're searching for slightly cheaper properties or more expensive properties, then you could adjust the price and then manage their expectations up or down. 

Deferred maintenance

Finally, there could be issues of deferred maintenance, like poorly kept HVAC systems or old roofs. The good news is that the fix for these is simple: just invest in the property a tiny bit to cover up these problems so that it's ready for sale.