What the days-on-market number hides
THE HOME GUIDE · 31
What the days-on-market number hides
The number of days a home has been listed is a clue, not a full answer.
ABOUT 3 MINUTES TO READ
A QUICK LOOK · THREE THINGS TO KNOW
01 / START HERE
Look at the full listing history
A home may look new online after being listed before.
02 / START HERE
Ask why it took time
A high first price, hard move date or needed repairs may slow a sale.
03 / START HERE
Compare with other homes
Look at similar homes and what buyers did.
When a home sits on the market, it is easy to guess that something is wrong. Sometimes the first price was too high. Sometimes the history is more complex.
PART 01
Look at the full listing history
A home may look new online after being listed before. Ask when it first went up for sale and whether the price changed.
PART 02
Ask why it took time
A high first price, hard move date or needed repairs may slow a sale. The number of days alone does not tell you why.
PART 03
Compare with other homes
Look at similar homes and what buyers did. Ask what has changed since the home was first listed.
A SMALL STEP YOU CAN TAKE
One thing to check today
Ask for the old prices, dates and any changes to the home.
HOW TO USE THIS
If you are buying or selling
If you are buying
A long listing can be worth a look. Check the reason before judging.
If you are selling
Use true listing history and current buyer choices to plan next steps.
SAVE THIS LIST
Three questions worth asking
- Is this the first listing period?
- What price or presentation changes occurred?
- What objective evidence explains the market response?
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