08/23/2026
This coffee cup made me laugh… because I’ve had almost this exact conversation more than once lately. ☕️🏡
I keep seeing homeowners frustrated because their house has been sitting on the market for months. And inevitably, the conclusion becomes:
“It’s the market.”
“Buyers aren’t buying.”
“Realtors aren’t showing my house.”
But sometimes… it’s none of those things.
Last week, I came across a For Sale By Owner post from someone frustrated that Realtors weren’t bringing buyers to her home.
So, because I’m nosy about real estate 😂, I looked it up.
The house had been on the market for almost a year.
It was technically listed in MLS through a flat-fee/discount service, but the seller was essentially handling the marketing herself.
The photos looked like they had been taken with a phone. The house hadn’t been decluttered or staged. It clearly needed some updating.
And then I looked at the price.
It was priced at the top of the neighborhood market.
Meanwhile, the Zillow activity told an even bigger story: very few views and only a couple of saves.
That’s not Realtors refusing to show a house.
That’s buyers scrolling right past it.
Then yesterday, I was talking with a friend about the house next door to her. It’s been listed for about three months without much activity.
Different situation. This one IS listed with an agent from a well-known brokerage.
I looked it up.
The first listing photo is the front of the house…but you can barely see the house behind the overgrown trees. There are cars filling the driveway, bare patches in the lawn and tired landscaping.
Inside, there are different paint colors everywhere, unfinished areas, dark rooms and a kitchen photographed under fluorescent lighting.
And again…
They’re asking top dollar.
There are even brand-new homes nearby listed for less.
And this is where I wish I could sit down with some sellers over coffee before they ever put the sign in the yard.
Your house does not have to be perfect.
It does not have to look like a magazine.
And I’m certainly not going to tell you to spend $50,000 remodeling a house you’re about to sell.
But we DO need to look at your home the way a buyer will.
Sometimes that means trimming trees, painting a room, decluttering, moving furniture, fixing a few things, improving curb appeal or professionally staging certain spaces.
Sometimes it means pricing differently because you chose not to make those improvements.
And it ALWAYS means professional photography and marketing that makes someone stop scrolling and think:
“I want to see that house.”
Because buyers usually don't “see the potential.”
They see the work.
And if they see work, they expect the price to reflect it.
I've sold several homes this year that went under contract within just a few days — some with multiple offers — even in a market where we're constantly hearing that homes aren't selling.
That doesn't mean I have some magic wand. 🪄
It means strategy matters. Preparation matters. Presentation matters. Pricing matters. And yes… who you work with matters.
If your house has been sitting and you're wondering why, I'm always happy to take a look and give you my opinion — even if you just want a second set of eyes and a little friendly advice over coffee.
☕️ I promise I'll tell you what I would tell a friend.
Thinking about selling? Send me a message. Before you put the sign in the yard, let's make sure buyers have a reason to stop scrolling
