There are four major reasons some homes don't sell.

The most frequent reason homes don't sell is overpricing. Some sellers are testing the market by listing their homes higher than the market value of the house. Overpricing discourages realtors and their buyers from even looking at the house or making an offer. An overpriced house can be a sign of a non-serious seller who is testing the market and will sell if a buyer offers to pay the inflated asking price.

To avoid overpricing, sellers should interview local realtors before listing their home. Agents will prepare a comparative market analysis which shows recent sales prices of comparable, nearby homes, asking prices of competitive listings and asking prices of homes that did not sell. The seller will also receive market value opinions on their home from the agent.

A correctly priced listing should result in potential buyers and their agents running to see it. The asking price and sales terms should also take into consideration any defects or repairs that the home needs.

The second most important reason a home doesn't sell is its condition. Since most home buyers want a home in excellent condition, it is worth it to fix up a property before selling it, rather than reducing the price to compensate for repairs needed.

Inexpensive improvements, such as painting inside and outside, new light fixtures, new carpets and fresh landscaping, are profitable improvements that a home seller can make. Keep away from major remodeling, i.e. kitchens and baths, which are costly and seldom increase sales price significantly to justify the cost.

Buyers looking for fixer-uppers will usually look for price reductions to compensate for the repairs they will come across to make the purchase worth their while.

An undesirable location is another reason homes don't sell. Disadvantages such as noisy, high traffic areas, high crime rates, poorly maintained neighborhoods, nearby commercial buildings, lack of parks or recreation areas, and poor schools make an area less desirable. Families with children may pass up a beautiful home if the area has poorly ranked public schools, whereas homes in towns with high-rankings schools will usually increase their values.

In today's competitive market, a real estate agent needs to do more than just get the listing and put it on the MLS. To sell a home successfully, there should be a specific marketing plan. In addition to the MLS, there should be open houses for potential buyers and tours for other realtors. The listing should be put on the internet and it should be advertised in local newspapers or real estate magazines. It is also very important to network with other realtors who represent potential buyers.