Should You Blame Your Agent if Your Home Is Not Selling
A reader recently wrote to me with a frustrating situation when their house is not selling. They own a small updated cabin of about 692 square feet on 3 acres outside of Washington, DC. The home has a walkout basement of equal size, and they listed it at $310,000. After two weeks, they accepted an offer of $300,000. The appraisal came in at $279,000. Their agent thought that number was low. The buyers were willing to add $5,000, but when the sellers asked to split the difference, the buyers walked away.
Two weeks later the sellers reduced the list price to $259,000, yet they still had few showings. They wondered if the price drops and relisting had stained the property, if their real estate agent was to blame, and if the agent had ruined the original deal.
Unique Homes Are Hard to Price
One of the first things I notice is that this is a unique property. A small house on acreage is unusual and can be difficult to price accurately. In cases like this, both sellers and real estate agents may struggle to determine the right number. It is not always a matter of not doing the work but simply that there are fewer comparable properties to guide the pricing.
Is the Agent Really at Fault
It is frustrating when your house is not selling. It is very easy to blame a real estate agent when things do not go as planned. But here, the agent marketed the home, brought in showings, and secured an offer. That is their job. The decision to counter the appraisal and risk losing the deal ultimately rested with the seller. In hindsight, it may feel like the real estate agent should have pushed harder, but the reality is both parties were making decisions with the information available at that time.
Why Price Reductions Can Help
Many sellers are hesitant to reduce price because they fear looking desperate. In truth, a price reduction is often the best way to bring more eyes to a property. Online platforms highlight homes with new pricing, and real estate agents with buyers in their system get notified automatically. More visibility creates more opportunity for showings and offers. Even if buyers question why the price changed, it is still worth it to reset attention on the property.
What To Do Next
This is not the time to fire your agent. Instead, have a direct conversation with them about why the house is not selling and what it will take to get the home sold. Is another price adjustment needed? Should the marketing be refreshed? Are there concessions that could help attract buyers? The key is to stay proactive rather than assign blame.
Final Thought
Selling a home can be emotional and hindsight always makes the process seem clearer. But in this case, the real estate agent did not ruin the deal. The home is still on the market, and with the right strategy it can still sell.
If you are in a similar position and want guidance on what to do next, I am happy to share my insights. I can also connect you with a trusted real estate professional anywhere in the country to help you buy or sell with confidence.
