Why Some Listings Get Offers and Others Don’t
Right now in Brantford, I’m seeing the same pattern over and over.
Two houses on the same street list in the same week.
One sells in days.
The other sits for months.
Same market.
Same buyers.
Very different outcome.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens because one seller had the right strategy, and the other didn’t.
Here’s how it actually works.
The Reality of Today’s Market
This is not a “throw it up and see what happens” market.
Buyers are cautious.
Inventory is high.
Financing is tighter.
Nobody is rushing.
Right now, for every home that sells, there are usually three to five that don’t.
And that repeats every month.
The good ones move.
The rest sit.
And the longer they sit, the harder it gets to recover.
1. Price Is the Biggest Factor
Most homes that struggle aren’t wildly overpriced.
They’re usually off by five to ten percent.
That small gap is everything.
When your price is just a bit too high:
Your home looks out of line for the area
Buyers compare it to better options
Yours gets skipped
You don’t get rejected.
You get ignored.
Overpriced homes don’t “test the market.” They disappear from it.
Correct pricing creates interest.
Strong pricing creates urgency.
Urgency creates offers.
2. First Impressions Happen Online
Your first showing today is on a phone screen.
Photos, lighting, clutter, paint, smell, and overall condition all matter.
Buyers decide in seconds whether they’ll even click.
One important thing to understand:
Great photos do not make your home worth more money.
But when the price is right, great photos make your home stand out and get all the attention.
When the price is wrong, great photos just give you showings with no offers.
If the home looks tired online, buyers assume it’s tired in real life.
That assumption costs you.
3. Every Home Needs a Clear Target Buyer
Every property has a most likely buyer.
First-time buyer.
Downsizer.
Investor.
Move-up family.
The mistake I see all the time is trying to appeal to everyone.
When you market to everyone, you connect with no one.
A renovator looks at a home differently than a young family.
A downsizer cares about different things than an investor.
Your pricing, presentation, write-up, and marketing should all be built around the right buyer.
When that’s done properly, the home “fits” for people.
And when it fits, they act.
4. Exposure Matters More Than Most Sellers Think
Being on MLS is no longer enough.
In our area, we have two MLS systems.
To get full exposure, you need both.
Many agents only belong to one board.
That limits visibility.
On top of that, strong listings need active marketing.
Targeted ads.
Large databases.
Teams that are actively selling the property.
Some homes are technically listed.
But nobody is really seeing them.
Quiet listings don’t get saved.
They don’t get shared.
They don’t get offers.
5. The First Two Weeks Are Critical
The first two weeks on the market tell you almost everything.
That’s when all the serious buyers are watching.
They’re already approved.
They’re already shopping.
They’re waiting for something new.
When your home goes live, they all see it at once.
That’s your best window.
If none of those buyers make a move, now you’re waiting for new buyers to enter the market.
That takes time.
Momentum fades.
Negotiating power drops.
Low offers start showing up.
Week one matters more than most people realize.
What I See in the Real World
I see this constantly, even with my own clients.
Some follow the strategy.
They price properly.
They prepare properly.
They launch strong.
They get results, even in tough segments.
Others push the price.
They resist changes.
They want to “see what happens.”
Those homes usually struggle.
Same market.
Different strategy.
Different outcome.
Why “Waiting It Out” Usually Backfires
In hot markets, waiting can work.
In slow markets, it usually makes things worse.
More listings come on.
More competition shows up.
More buyer hesitation builds.
The longer a home sits, the more buyers start wondering what’s wrong.
Even when nothing is wrong.
Later price reductions feel desperate, even when they’re reasonable.
Time is not your friend in this market.
The Three-Question Test Before You List
Before going live, step back and be honest.
Look at what buyers can actually choose from.
Then ask:
Are we clearly the best value in our range?
If I were buying, would I seriously consider this home?
Do we stand out, or do we blend in?
If any answer is no, fix it first.
Not after 30 days.
Before you launch.
That’s how you avoid becoming the listing that just sits.
Final Thought
Every home can sell.
Not every strategy works in every market.
If you’re curious how this applies to your place, I’m happy to walk through it with you.
No pressure. Just clarity.
