Should You Make an Offer on a House That Has Been on the Market a Long Time?

A home that has been listed for a long time can immediately make buyers suspicious. They may assume something must be wrong or that the seller will automatically accept a low offer. Neither assumption is necessarily correct.

Long market time can happen for many reasons. The property may have started overpriced, had poor photography, been difficult to show, gone under contract and returned to the market, or simply entered the market at an unfortunate time. The current price may be much more reasonable than the original one.

Buyers should evaluate the home the same way they would any other property. Look at comparable sales, condition, location, inspection considerations, and the seller’s current asking price. A long listing history may create negotiating leverage, but it shouldn’t replace an analysis of actual value.

Brad Papa and Team Papa help buyers throughout Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, and Kansas City look beyond days on market and determine what a property is worth today. A home that other buyers overlooked can sometimes become a great opportunity when the numbers finally make sense.