Here’s the deal before you put your house on the market: the homeowners who come out ahead right now aren’t the ones sitting back or waiting for the perfect moment. They’re the ones who adjust their approach from the very beginning.

A lot of homeowners this year didn't get the results they hoped for. It’s not that the market was the problem, but rather their expectations didn’t quite match the reality.

Realtor.com says that 57% more homes have been pulled off the market this year compared to last year. In other words, they were listed but didn’t end up selling. The main reasons for this come down to two factors: price and timing.

If the seller had approached each situation with the right mindset, their sale would have turned out differently. Here are the top two lessons you can take from what those sellers experienced.

1. Price It Right from Day 1

Let’s talk about the biggest hurdle: the asking price. Nowadays, 8 out of 10 sellers believe they’ll get their asking price or even more. But often, that confidence doesn’t match what actually happens.

Redfin reports that just about one in four sellers, or 25.3%, are managing to sell their homes for more than their asking price.

Here’s where the disconnect is happening.

A few years back, you could list your home at just about any price, and buyers would still be eager to jump on it. Most of the time, you'd end up selling for more than your asking price. But today, that’s not how the market works anymore.

Buyers today have more choices than they’ve seen in years, so they can afford to be picky. If your price seems even a bit too high, they’ll quickly move on without a second thought.

Some homeowners react by taking their listings off the market instead of making a minor price adjustment that could make all the difference. It’s really unfortunate because usually, just a small price change is enough to attract buyers and close the deal.

Right now, the typical price reduction is only around 4%, according to HousingWire.

Think about this: Some sellers set their price too high and then get frustrated when their homes don’t sell, instead of simply lowering the price by about 4%. If they had priced their homes just a bit lower from the start, they might have already sold. So before you put your home on the market, have a conversation with your agent about what’s actually selling nearby. They’ll help you find that perfect price point—one that’s competitive and realistic but still protects your financial goals.

Here’s the thing: if you’ve owned your home for a while, the equity you’ve built up lets you price your home more competitively and still end up with a great profit. Sadly, other sellers didn’t seem to catch on to that advantage.

 2. Don’t Rush the Process

A lot of sellers still think their homes will sell in just a weekend, especially since they remember when properties used to go in hours. But nowadays, in most markets, that's just not how things work anymore.

A lot of people expect their house to sell in just a weekend, but that’s usually not the case. On average, it takes about 60 days to go from listing to closing, which is completely normal (check out the gray section in the graph below).

It seems slower because people are comparing it to how fast things moved in 2020 and 2021.

Imagine you're cruising down the highway at 65 mph, then you take an exit and slow down to 25 mph. It feels like you're crawling, but really, it's the perfect speed for that part of the road. That’s where a lot of other sellers get stuck—they expect the same pace all the way through. But you can stay ahead by understanding what to expect and adjusting accordingly.

Today’s buyers are more deliberate. They’re carefully considering their choices, taking their time, and making well-thought-out decisions, which is leading to a stronger, healthier housing market.

These things usually take some time, so that’s completely normal.

If you want your house to sell fast, chat with your agent about how to make it stand out. This could mean staging, taking great photos, or setting the right price. With the right guidance, pricing, and preparation, your home can still sell quickly.

Bottom Line

If you’re considering selling your home, don’t get discouraged by the market—use it to your advantage. The homes that didn’t sell this year weren’t failures; they just needed a better approach from the start.

You can still come out ahead by pricing your home correctly, being patient, and teaming up with a local agent who understands how to market your property from the beginning.

In today’s market, success doesn’t come from waiting for things to improve. It’s about setting the right expectations from the very beginning.