Without a doubt the most puzzling and stress-inducing thing that consumes home sellers these days is why their home hasn’t sold yet. Understandably, they’re frustrated and anxious for some action. After all, it’s unlikely they put their home on the market so it wouldn’t sell.

Unfortunately, this is quite common these days. Similar to what followed the 2016-2017 frenzy, since 2023 East Gwillimbury has been experiencing a perhaps even greater and certainly longer- lasting easing compared to the first 3 years of the 2020s. Home sellers in 2024 and so far in 2025 are feeling the impact of this market change.

The reality is that there are many more homes available for sale (supply is up) and there are less active buyers (demand is down) leading to flat or even decreasing prices and longer sale times. The reasons for this are far too varied and complex to adequately cover here, so while it may be an interesting discussion at a party, it’s more practical to explore ways that sellers in the current market can still succeed.

Therefore, here are some things today’s sellers should keep in mind.

The MLS Listing QUALITY Matters

Incomplete, inaccurate, or sparsely populated MLS listings (of which there are a surprisingly high number) discourage buyers and their agents from bothering to book showings. In some cases they subconsciously project this lack of care and attention onto the home itself, as if the home itself will similarly have undefined shortcomings. In most cases, however, buyers have specific needs and wants, and they are more likely to focus on listings that specifically meet these requirements. If the detail isn’t there, they typically look elsewhere rather than waste their time on a long shot maybe.

For example, what if a seller had a 5 acre property but their listing neglected to specify the size in the appropriate spot (it’s a valuable but not required field). Anyone looking for acreage would not see this listing in their search results, and the seller misses out on these potential buyers.

The system allows for a multitude of data points, so don’t be shy with the details. But don’t just fill the space for the sake of doing so; MLS is most valuable when every detail is focused on accentuating the finer points of your home in order to appeal to the widest range of buyers.

Great Photos and Video Matter

It seems like technology improvements happen overnight. Thanks to the latest and greatest smartphones, it has never been easier to get good quality photos and video. Good at least for social media. But for maximum appeal, professional photos and video are an absolute must. There’s more buyer psychology here: compare two listings side by side, one where the seller or their agent has used their iPhone and the other with professionally planned, taken, and edited images, and the difference is immediately noticeable. One gives the impression the seller has likely just rushed into the market and perhaps isn’t totally committed to the process, while the other shows that the seller is seriously interested in showing off their home in its best light so that they attract the right buyers.

A professional photographer knows how to use proper technology and techniques to highlight the features of the home. What the seller ends up with is a polished online presence that gets buyers’ attention.

Showings Matter

Buyers want to see homes when they want, and yes, that could sometimes be inconvenient. If sellers routinely decline showing requests or place restrictions on available times, buyers will move on to the next home where the owner is more accommodating. Remember, there are a lot more homes to choose from these days, so it’s easy for buyers to move on.

First Impressions Matter

We’ve all heard the phrase you only have one chance to make a first impression. The MLS and professional photography has got potential buyers excited, so don’t disappoint them. Sellers need to make sure their home is kept “show-ready” inside and out so when potential buyers arrive they’ll be anxious to stay longer and see everything. Usually they know within a few brief moments if they are interested or not, and often this first impression has less to do with a home’s design or location and more to do with its state of cleanliness and repair/disrepair. Most buyers only see what’s in front of them and have a really hard time recognizing the potential laying underneath the worn and dirty surface of a tired looking home.

PRICE Matters! It Matters a Lot.

Be assured that the market speaks loudly - in ALL market conditions. Therefore a seller who ignores the evidence and sets too high an asking price will not sell their home until they become more realistic. Often sellers believe there is something so unique or special about their home that the wider market reality doesn’t apply to them. They are wrong. It’s that simple.

In any event, the sooner the seller accepts the pricing according to current conditions, the better chance they have of making progress towards the ultimate goal of a sale.

Sometimes the argument from sellers is that they will lose out if they underprice their home. Indeed while this is possible, it’s highly unlikely and here’s why: reiterating the above about the market speaking loudly in all conditions, if a seller guesses wrong and their price is lower than what buyers out there would otherwise expect, there will be enough interest in the home that pricing will get pushed upward. And yes…aggressively priced homes have been known to get multiple offers even in this market.

So, price too high and all the seller will end up getting is what they deem is a lowball offer, if they get anything at all. Eventually the home will become stale in the market and the seller will have lost out on any brand new listing momentum they might have otherwise had. 

A common theme throughout is this idea of buyer psychology. During the hot markets of a few years ago, the predominant buyer motivation was to offer more money in order to beat the other interested buyer(s) and not lose out in yet another bidding war. Now, however, there are other much more subtle and deeply subconscious powers for sellers to consider. Successfully recognizing this “new” buyer mindset will help smart sellers position their home more strategically so that, despite challenging market conditions, they can still achieve the successful sale they are after.