How Long is Too Long To Keep Your House Listed?

Have you ever driven past a house for 3 years and wondered why it was still for sale? So does everyone else.

"Having a for sale sign on your front lawn for 4 months or more can do more harm than good," says Thomas Miller, a real estate agent in Saskatoon. "In Saskatoon where the average house sells within 33 days it can definitley leave people scratching their heads as to why it's still on the market. People start to assume something is wrong with the house, it can scare people off."

Water damage, mold problems, structural issues are all problems people foresee being wrong but Miller says "Usually the only problem is that the house is priced too high." Miller goes on to say, "Generally people over value their assets. They want to get the most out of their house but if the property isn't selling then at some point you have to take a look at the market and see what is really happening out there."

If your one of those people that has had their house listed for longer than what your happy with there are solutions to the problem. Miller states, "There are a few things that can help your situation. Number one, talk to your agent and reduce the price, it's as simple as that. The second is to pull the house off the market for a week or two and relist it. It may catch agents attention again as a new listing and you may generate some new potential buyers by doing so."