More homes are sitting unsold. How can you give yours a stronger start?
By Ben Price·Posted
To give your home a stronger start in a slower market, check recent comparable sales, question the appraisal evidence, prepare for your likely buyers and agree on campaign review points before listing. These steps help you make informed decisions, but they cannot guarantee a quick sale or a particular price.
SQM Research's September 2026 report, released on 2 October 2026, recorded national property listings 21.6% higher than a year earlier. More total listings do not, on their own, prove that every local market is taking longer to sell. It is a reason to prepare carefully, not an instruction for every seller to cut their price.
Compare recent sales and competing homes in your area
A national headline cannot tell you what your particular property will achieve. Your potential buyers may be considering a small group of suburbs, a specific school catchment or a particular type of home. Their alternatives are the most useful place to begin.
Ask each prospective agent to show you recent comparable sales and the properties currently competing with yours. Discuss differences in condition, land, layout, location and timing. An asking price shows what another seller hopes to achieve; a completed sale offers a different kind of evidence. Both deserve context.
This exercise should help explain the proposed price range and the likely buyer. It also gives you a way to compare agents beyond their enthusiasm at the appraisal appointment.
Check the evidence behind your property appraisal
A higher estimate can be appealing, particularly when the sale will fund your next move. The important question is how that estimate was reached. Ask what evidence supports it and what assumptions would need to hold for buyers to pay that amount.
A credible agent should be comfortable discussing uncertainty. Ask what could make the result stronger, what could hold it back and how they would respond if early feedback differs from expectations. An appraisal is an opinion, not a guaranteed sale price.
Include buyer budgets in the conversation
Interest-rate changes can affect both what some buyers can borrow and what they feel comfortable spending. The RBA raised its cash rate target to 4.60% on 29 September 2026. That is useful context when reviewing demand, although the response will vary between buyers and locations.
Ask agents what they are observing in your price bracket: are buyers seeking finance conditions, taking longer to decide or comparing more properties? Request examples rather than assuming every enquiry reflects the same financial circumstances.
Which home improvements and marketing costs are worthwhile?
Before agreeing to extensive work, ask which improvements address a likely buyer objection. A clear, well-presented home and accurate photographs can help buyers understand what is on offer. An expensive renovation needs a more careful assessment of cost, time and likely benefit.
Likewise, ask what each marketing item is intended to achieve. Compare the proposals and costs, including what is payable if the property does not sell. A larger advertising budget is not, by itself, a complete selling strategy.
What should you review if your home is not selling?
Set expectations for communication while the campaign is still being planned. Agree when the agent will report on enquiries, inspections, repeat visits and offers. Ask how feedback will be collected and explained.
If interest is weak, review the whole picture: exposure, presentation, access, competition and price. Avoid making a major decision from one comment, but do not let weeks pass without a clear explanation and a proposed response.
Get support before committing
At BrokerMyAgent, we help sellers across Australia find and compare best-fit agents, coordinate and review appraisals, and assess sales proposals. We also review agent commission and marketing costs, and challenge anything that doesn't stack up, then provide guidance throughout the selling process.
Our seller service is at no cost to the seller; we receive a fee from the agent you ultimately choose. You remain in control of the decision.
If you are thinking about selling, a free, no-obligation 15-minute call is a useful place to start. We can discuss where you are in the process and the questions to resolve before appointing an agent. Know someone preparing to sell? You are welcome to pass this article on.
Sources and market context
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