When a listing lingers, start with the data
Before recommending a price change, listing agents should review the home’s marketing, buyer feedback and comparable listings. A clear record of exposure can help sellers understand what the market is showing and make the next step feel less emotional.
A listing that lingers can make sellers anxious and leave agents feeling pressure to explain what comes next. But before the conversation turns to price, agents should first be able to show what has been done to bring qualified buyers through the door.
A strong marketing record can help. That includes open houses, broker tours, ads, email blasts, social posts, postcards, agent-to-agent calls and the daily exposure a listing receives through the MLS and online portals. Agents should also review comparable active and sold listings to see how long similar homes sat, what changed and what ultimately helped them move.
That documentation gives agents a more grounded way to talk with sellers. Instead of making the discussion feel personal or emotional, it connects the next step to what the market is showing. If the home has been widely promoted but buyer traffic or offers remain weak, price becomes easier to discuss as a market-based decision.
Before recommending a price adjustment, agents should also take a fresh look at the listing itself. Updated photography, stronger listing copy, a refreshed marketing push and direct feedback from buyer agents can help identify whether the issue is presentation, exposure or buyer perception. If those pieces are in place and the listing still is not moving, a marketing audit can help keep the seller conversation clear, specific and focused on the data.
Source: Inman (06/18/26) Davis, Darryl
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