Why Your Home Might Not Be Selling (And What You Can Do About It)

Nov 29

Selling a home can feel a little like waiting for a text back—you’re refreshing, you’re hopeful, and you’re wondering why nothing is happening yet. If your home has been sitting on the market longer than expected, don’t panic. The Memphis market is still moving, but homes that don’t check a few key boxes may lag behind.

Here are the top reasons your home might not be selling—and how to turn things around.

1. The Price Isn’t Aligned With the Market

Let’s start with the big one: pricing.

If your home is priced too high compared to similar properties in your neighborhood, buyers will skip right over it and wait for the next one. Today’s buyers are savvy—they get instant alerts, they watch market shifts, and they know when a listing feels overpriced.

Fix it:

Compare your price to recently closed comps, not active listings.
Look at your price bracket—are you $5K–$10K above the next group of homes that look newer or nicer?
Consider a strategic price adjustment to bring in new eyes.

2. Your Online Presentation Isn’t Strong Enough

In 2025, buyers don’t just browse—they judge. They expect magazine-quality photos, videos, and sometimes even a vibe.

If your listing photos are dark, outdated, cluttered, or failing to highlight your home’s features, online shoppers may swipe left before they ever walk through your door.

Fix it:

Professional photography is non-negotiable.
Consider adding drone footage, a video tour, or a fun lifestyle reel (my specialty!).
Declutter and simplify—rooms look larger and more inviting when buyers can visualize themselves living there.

3. Your Home Needs Minor Updates or Repairs

Buyers today love “move-in ready.” Even small issues—older paint colors, worn carpet, dated lighting—can make a home feel tired compared to newer or recently updated listings.

Fix it:

A fresh coat of paint goes a long way.
Upgrade fixtures—black and brass are having a moment.
Make sure all lights work and all hardware matches.
Repair anything obvious: loose doorknobs, peeling caulk, squeaky doors.

Small updates often have a big impact.

4. It’s Not Being Marketed to the Right Audience

Not every buyer is the same—and not every home draws the same crowd.

Your home might be perfect for first-time buyers, growing families, downsizers, investors, or people wanting acreage… but if your marketing doesn’t highlight the features that matter most to that group, you’re missing your target.

Fix it:
Your agent (hi, that’s me!) should be:

Positioning your home intentionally
Using neighborhood-specific keywords
Highlighting lifestyle features
Marketing on platforms where the right buyers actually are

5. It’s Not Easy Enough to Show

This one is big—and often overlooked.

If the home is difficult to schedule, pets are present, tenants occupy the space, or showing windows are tight, buyers may move on to something more accessible.

Fix it:

Offer flexible showing times when possible
Make the home clean, cool/warm, and welcoming
Secure pets or take them with you
Streamline showing instructions so agents don’t struggle to get in

6. Market Conditions Might Be Shifting

Interest rates, buyer demand, and seasonality all play a role. Even in a strong Memphis market, things ebb and flow week by week.

Fix it:

Review feedback honestly
Revisit pricing, presentation, and marketing strategy
Evaluate whether your home is competing with new construction or newly renovated listings
Adjust quickly rather than letting your listing sit and grow stale

7. Your Home Isn’t Standing Out From the Competition

Buyers compare your home side-by-side with everything else in their price range. If your home feels similar—but not better—it may get lost in the shuffle.

Fix it:

Look at what’s selling nearby
Identify what those homes offer that yours doesn’t
Add features that boost perceived value (updated lighting, staged spaces, fresh landscaping, modern mirrors, etc.)

The Good News? We Can Fix All of This.

Homes don’t sit for no reason—they sit for fixable reasons.

With a strategic approach, updated marketing, and a refreshed presentation, your home can absolutely attract the right buyer. I specialize in helping sellers reposition their listings, create attention-grabbing marketing, and get homes sold—even if they struggled the first time around.

Want a free listing audit? I’ll review:
✔ Your pricing
✔ Your listing photos
✔ Your competition
✔ Your marketing strategy
✔ What buyers are seeing (or not seeing)

Send me your address, and I’ll take it from there.

——
Leigh Lamb, Realtor®
Memphis • Collierville • Germantown • Surrounding Areas
Your home deserves better marketing—let’s make it shine.