As a seller, you continuously lose bargaining power as weeks pass. Your negotiation power in week six will be much weaker than in week one. That’s why, sellers are often so desperate to remove the “pending” tag from their property.
Even though it gives off the impression that the house is unwanted, it could simply be mispriced, poorly marketed or offer limited showings; not because they are bad homes.
To avoid being perceived the wrong way by your potential buyers, you need to implement some fast selling strategies. Here’s how you do it.
The “Stigma” of Houses With Pending Sales
DOM (Days on Market) isn’t just a stat anymore. It’s a signal of how lucrative the property is. Subconsciously buyers associate “pending” sales with “low demand.” And, the longer it sits on the marketplace, the more questions it raises. Those questions can quickly turn into hesitation or discounted offers.
Here’s a DOM threshold that affects buyer psychology:
0–14 days: “New listing” energy. Buyers assume demand is strong and act quickly.
15–30 days: Buyers start looking for why it hasn’t sold yet.
30+ days: The home is often perceived as problematic, even if nothing is actually wrong.
By “problematic,” buyers can think the property has inspection related issues or that it’s overpriced.
And, when such thoughts appear, even small issues like a dated kitchen or an unconventional layout feel daunting.
Why Reducing Time on Market Matters Financially
- Price Reductions Become Expected
On week 6 you will start attracting buyers who want a “cheap” deal. Even though there’s nothing wrong with your property, you will have to drop the price. Data across many markets shows homes that sell within the first 30 days typically close closer to their list price than homes that linger longer and require multiple reduction sessions. - Carrying Costs Add Up
Every extra month on the market means paying more mortgage, property taxes, and insurance installments. Plus maintaining the property as well as its utilities is another big hassle. These costs add up as selling gets delayed.
5 Common Reasons Why Some Houses Linger On The Market
Pricing Without Context
One of the most common pricing mistakes sellers make is pricing without proper context. Homeowners focus on what their house could be rather than how buyers actually compare properties.
You might be seeing a property worth millions that looks similar to yours and end up pricing yours the same. But you ignored the location. Maybe the house sits in a high-profile neighborhood offering privacy or it’s closer to popular schools or it’s an area known for certain lifestyle perks.
Can the location of your property offer the same? If not, you can’t charge the same for your property no matter how amazing your property looks on paper.
Many homeowners keep going after renovations to increase the home value. But there is a catch. If every house in your street is within the $200k-$300K range and your newly renovated property is listed at $600K, be prepared to wait a long time.
Even if your price is justified by your cost, that’s still $400K extra than your competitors. That’s how buyers think.
Poor First Impression
It’s also possible that you failed to capture the true essence of your property through photographs. Today, people spend only seconds looking at a photo to decide whether they want to see more or not. So, you can’t wait for the viewer to carefully watch all the photos and videos.
Something as trivial as overgrown grass on your lawn can discourage buyers.
Now, why do buyers get so affected by such things? The reason is risk. As soon as someone notices a dark entryway or cluttered porch, they assume the house has not been maintained well. That could mean there are many internal issues with the house that will cost the future buyer.
Weak Marketing
If you still think MLS is the only way to attract buyers, you are dead wrong. Posting photos of your listing is only the start. Nowadays, people don’t trust online photos. So, even a potential buyer might scroll past your listing just because your description sounds AI-generated, photos are too few in number.
How A Fast Sale Strategy Can Help Such Houses
Strategy 1: Price Smartly
If you have made one of the pricing mistakes we described earlier, it’s time to rectify. First of all, make a list of why someone would want to buy in your area. What are their prime desires? Is it modest pricing? Then, you better focus on functional upgrades instead of luxury finishes. Value over prestige should be your go-to mantra.
Strategy 2: Boost Presentation
Instead of going rampage on full-scale renovation, focus on the “first 30 seconds” rule. Fix the things or areas people will notice first. It can be a clean walkway or well-maintained landscape. No need to spend too much. A professional pressure-wash and giving some attention to the curb appeal would be enough.
If you want to go one step ahead, paint the front-porch in neutral colors. Try to stay within a particular color palette when painting each room. Also,make sure the rooms are not filled with your personal decoration. It hinders the buyer’s imagination on how they can redesign it. Keep only a minimum number of furniture so the room can breathe.
Strategy 3: Multi-Channel Marketing Approach
Carefully construct your listing. Answer why anyone should at least see your property in person. What type of buyers can make the most of this house? Your ability to paint a picture in the buyer’s mind dictates how fast you can sell.
Apart from photos, attach videos and virtual tours of the house; the more content you post, the more people will trust you. And, sure enough, someone will turn outside your house for a closer look.
Final Thoughts
Some reasons for pending sales are unavoidable. For example, when there are too many inventories in the housing market. Buyers normally get more bargaining power and delay closing a deal hoping to find a cheaper deal. Or, sometimes the economy itself can affect a buyer’s purchase ability.
Nonetheless, in this article we tried to stick with the avoidable ones. Make sure you don’t make a mistake regarding things that are under your control to grab the best deal quickly.
With a Master in Architectural Studies from University of Pennysylvania, Marwa Haydar has pioneered living spaces since 2005. Her expertise, initially honed in a prestigious architectural firm, is evident in her approach to creating environments. Marwa became part of our team in 2019 and has since been a driving force in our home improvement section, known for her practical yet stylish solutions. She’s been spearheading our design workshops since then, infusing her passion for teaching into her work. In her leisure time, Marwa enjoys exploring historic architecture and is an enthusiastic pottery hobbyist, further enriching her understanding of form and texture.
