Do All Houses Sell Eventually?

Have you had your house up on the market for months, and it’s just not budging? You’re not alone – and it’s a situation more and more homeowners are facing in recent years.

You may be wondering, “Do all houses eventually sell?” Well, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no, but, in the most general terms, most houses should sell eventually. However, this is all based on your individual circumstances. 

In recent years, there have been several issues to face – a forever-fluctuating yo-yo of interest rates on mortgages; the competition between the housing market and renting; and the increasing cost of living. 

All of these factors, and more, are causing people to question whether it’s a good time to sell. 

This guide breaks down the key components that influence a house sale, including location, pricing strategy, and economic conditions, and provides practical tips on what to do if your house isn’t selling. 

Why Isn’t My House Selling?

If you’re wondering why your property is struggling to sell, there’s often a key reason (and sometimes, it’s more than one!). Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. Location
2. Condition of property 
3. Market conditions 
4. Economic factors
5. Pricing strategy 
6. Marketing approach
7. Length of time on the market
8. Property size and layout 
9. Unique features

While this list isn’t exhaustive, these are the core elements that often determine whether a house sells – and how quickly.

Location

Let’s start with the one thing you can’t change: location.

For some, this can be the biggest challenge, and one that is the most unavoidable. Factors like crime, poor transport links, limited amenities or being far from good schools can be an instant deal breaker for buyers.

That said, even homes in less-than-ideal locations do sell – it just means everything else (price, presentation, marketing) needs to work even harder to win buyers over.

Condition of Your Property

Properties in poor condition can sometimes fail to sell entirely – or only appeal to a niche segment of the market, such as developers (who would likely knock it down and start again) or renovation enthusiasts.

If your home requires major repairs, it may only be viable for buyers looking for a “doer-upper.” However, this narrows your potential audience considerably.

On the other hand, smaller issues like tired decor, cluttered rooms or minor repairs can often be addressed with a little TLC, making your home far more attractive and helping it sell faster.

Local Market Conditions

Making sure your property fits into the remit of the local market is crucial, so be sure to do your research. 

Are your neighbours selling too? Could there be competition in your area? Are there any planned construction works that could deter buyers? 

Using a knowledgeable local estate agent can help to overcome any of these issues, as they’ll know the area inside out, providing up-to-date insights on what local buyers want.

Economic Factors

Wider economic trends play a major role in how quickly homes sell.

Are mortgage interest rates high? Is it a seller’s market? Is the economy uncertain?

All of these factors influence buyer behaviour, and while you can’t control them, being aware of them can help you adjust your selling strategy.

Pricing Strategy

Overpricing is one of the most common reasons why houses struggle to sell. 

Buyers always want value for money, so make sure you consider everything before you commit to a ballpark price. 

Not sure where to start? For more advice on pricing your property, read our guide on how much you should sell your home for in 2025.

Marketing Approach

Even the best house won’t sell if people don’t know about it. 

How the property is being marketed will have a huge influence on whether your house will eventually sell or not. 

Bland descriptions, low-quality photos and lack of exposure can be huge issues, all of which can lead to your house being on the market for longer than it should be. 

If your house is struggling to sell, we’d recommend switching up your marketing strategy as one of the first steps (more on this below). 

Time on the Market

If your house has been on RightMove or other housing sites for a long time, it may quickly become “stale”. 

Houses that are stagnant typically gain less interest, as people often use filters of “added recently”, which can then wipe your property off the search completely. 

Generally, 90 days is classed as a long time for your house to be on the market. 

Size & Layout 

Layout and size can be big deterrents for properties. 

Some families may be looking for an open-plan downstairs, and separate bedrooms upstairs, while some may want something niche. Your property won’t be the right fit for everyone – it’s just a case of finding the right audience. 

Layout and size are one of the trickier components to change, so we’d suggest focusing on areas you can change (like decor and marketing) before considering renovating.

Any Unique Features

Unique features are often desirable (such as garden rooms, balconies or ponds), so chances are you’ll have marketed the house to focus on these features, as they are a good pull factor to give a house some character.  

However, sometimes those unique features can actually put people off. For example, a long lawn may appeal to families with young children, but deter older couples who don’t want the upkeep.

In short, you’ll probably need to wait for the right buyer whose taste is similar to your own, as in most cases, these features can’t (and shouldn’t) be changed. 

What to Do If Your House Isn’t Selling

So, you’ve been on the market for a while, and you’re not getting anywhere… what’s next?

Adjust your Strategy

If your house is struggling to sell, it might be time to adjust your strategy, both from a marketing perspective as well as reevaluating your asking price. 

Price

Lowering your asking price is the most common way of influencing a house sale. 

If you’ve been overpricing your property for a while, a price reduction (even to a new search listing bracket) could attract a bunch of new buyers. 

However, it’s good to note that dropping the price more than once might give the impression that you’re struggling to sell, and that the property is dropping in value. So, instead, drop the price significantly by no less than 10% to really make a difference to its exposure.

Marketing

If you’re unhappy with your current marketing, it may be worth considering changing estate agents. 

Fresh marketing is one of the best ways to attract local attention, so while changing estate agents (to an expert team like Liam Gretton) is the first step, asking to be featured on alternative house listings sites, like Zoopla or OnTheMarket would be beneficial, too.

Try and think out of the box with your estate agent – can you consider a virtual tour, showing off the best bits of your house? Would a narrated walk-through help the property sell? Maybe drone footage?

Spruce Things Up

It’s often a miracle what a lick of paint can do for a property. 

If your house is struggling to sell, a little spruce here and there could make all the world of difference. Easy sprucing ideas include:

• Painting garden fences
• Redecorating rooms
• Declutter (or store away)
• Small repairs
• Power wash the driveway
• Add plants/shrubs
• Replace lamp shades/bulbs

If it’s been on the market for a while and there’s a clear reason why it isn’t selling (such as layout), it may be worth considering if your home needs any work done to it.

Plastering a wall? Rewiring electrics? New kitchen? These can be considerations if your home is really struggling to sell, and has been for many months. 

Bring in the Experts

Our advice? Have an expert on your side who knows what works, and what doesn’t. 

At Liam Gretton, we bring market knowledge, hands-on experience and tailored advice to every home we sell. We know what buyers are looking for – and we know how to help your home stand out.

Let us expertly lead you through the process for a smooth, seamless transaction on your property. 

Offer Buyer Incentives

If your house really isn’t budging, it might be time to consider incentives. This could be:

• Including certain pieces of furniture
• Offering to cover part (or all) of the stamp duty
• Being flexible on completion dates
• Contributing to completion costs

Your estate agent will be able to guide you through the best ways to offer incentives without compromising on your budget. 

Will My House Sell?

So, do all houses eventually sell? The answer: it depends. It’s wholly dependent on your individual circumstances, such as location, market conditions and pricing strategy, and timelines can vary significantly. 

While it’s likely that most houses will eventually find the right buyer, this may often take longer than the seller would like, leading to them taking it off the market, or selling it for much lower than it’s worth.

So, if your home isn’t selling, don’t panic. Take a step back, reassess your approach and lean on professionals who can help you move forward with confidence.

Looking for honest advice, a fresh perspective or a no-obligation valuation? Get in touch with our friendly team at Liam Gretton today.