Why Only 55% of Homes Sell and How To Beat the Odds
Not every property that comes to market successfully completes and understanding why can be the difference between simply being listed and confidently moving to sold.
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that, in some areas, only around half of listed properties go on to exchange contracts. As active agents in today’s market, we see clearly where sales gain momentum and where they quietly stall. More importantly, we understand how to help you avoid becoming part of that statistic.
1) Strategic Pricing — Setting the Tone from Day One
Pricing is not about optimism, it is about strategy.
In many cases, homes do not fail to sell because there is a lack of demand. They stall because the pricing does not align with how today’s buyers search, compare and shortlist properties. Even a small overreach can limit early viewings, soften perceived value and ultimately lead to reductions that weaken negotiating power.
High volumes of unsold stock in any marketplace are often a reflection of pricing strategy rather than buyer inactivity.
Our pricing guidance is built on live market conditions, verified local completions and current buyer behaviour, not automated estimates or headline figures. The objective is to create early momentum, generate meaningful interest and position your home competitively from the outset.
When pricing is right on day one, everything that follows becomes stronger, from enquiry levels to the quality of offers received.
2) First Impressions — Online and On the Doorstep
Today’s buyers begin their search online, and the decisions they make in the first few seconds are often decisive. Presentation has never mattered more.
High-quality photography, considered lifestyle imagery and engaging, well-written descriptions can dramatically increase enquiry levels because buyers are not simply looking for rooms. They are looking for a feeling, a lifestyle and a sense of possibility. Twilight photography can elevate exterior appeal and help a home stand out in a competitive market.
Accurate floorplans and a polished listing allow buyers to visualise the space properly, while strategic marketing across social platforms ensures your property reaches the widest and most relevant audience.
Equally, the in-person experience must deliver. A home that feels light, calm and thoughtfully presented creates an immediate emotional connection. Styling, decluttering and considered enhancements such as virtual staging can help buyers appreciate the full potential, often leading to stronger offers and quicker decision-making.
At Newton & Co, we believe first impressions are not accidental. They are carefully crafted.
3) Availability — Be Ready for Viewers
Flexibility is often an overlooked advantage when selling. The most motivated buyers are not always searching within standard working hours, and homes that accommodate busy schedules tend to attract stronger levels of interest.
Properties that offer viewing availability across evenings and weekends consistently generate more enquiries, more appointments and ultimately more competitive offers.
In a fluid market, timing can be decisive. When a buyer is ready to act, delays in access can mean missed momentum, particularly when they are viewing several homes within a short timeframe.
Ensuring your property is accessible when interest is highest allows us to convert curiosity into commitment quickly, keeping your sale moving forward with pace and purpose.
4) Responding to Feedback with Purpose
Every viewing provides valuable insight. Buyer feedback is not simply commentary. It is real-time market intelligence that reveals whether your home is being perceived as intended.
If multiple buyers raise similar concerns, whether around pricing, presentation, layout or how the space photographs, it is often a sign that considered refinements could make a meaningful difference.
The most successful sales rarely come from a passive approach. Sellers who remain open to informed, strategic adjustments, such as enhancing styling, refining marketing emphasis or repositioning price expectations, typically generate renewed momentum far more quickly.
We review feedback carefully after each viewing and advise on the most appropriate next step, ensuring your property remains competitive, compelling and aligned with buyer expectations throughout the campaign.
Being responsive is often what turns early interest into a confident offer.
5) Dedicated Sales Progression and Proactive Chain Support
Even once an offer is agreed, a sale can lose momentum if other parts of the chain begin to weaken. Delays, uncertainty or changes elsewhere can impact progress, even when your own buyer remains committed.
This is where dedicated sales progression becomes essential. At Newton & Co, we remain closely involved well beyond the negotiation stage, actively managing communication between all parties, liaising with solicitors and other agents, and ensuring key milestones are being met.
By identifying potential obstacles early and keeping the process moving with clarity and purpose, we help guide transactions steadily towards exchange and completion.
A Clearer Route to Sold
Selling your home should feel like a guided progression, not a process filled with uncertainty or waiting.
If you would appreciate clear, tailored advice on how best to position your property in today’s market, we would be delighted to offer a complimentary valuation and a considered strategy built around your home, your timeline and your goals.