Ever worried about taking the plunge and getting that ‘for sale’ sign up, only to find your home sits around and won’t sell?
It’s only natural to worry about what might happen once you’re on the market.
Our latest survey results show this worry isn’t unfounded, but you have more influence than you might think. In fact, successful sellers are doing a few key things differently to get a result.
Sellers admit they priced too high
We asked more than 2,000 UK adults who tried selling their home in the past 3 years if they’d been successful. Almost half (44%) said their home failed to sell.
Price is the biggest sticking point, with overconfidence directly damaging success. Of the sellers who failed to find a buyer, 16.2% knew their home was overpriced from the outset.
More than a third (34%) realised, with hindsight, they’d set an unrealistically high asking price. At the time, these sellers thought they were asking a ‘fair price’.
What successful sellers are doing differently
Pricing realistically to avoid later reductions
Many sellers are discovering the hard way how important realistic pricing is.
For 53% of sellers, reducing their asking price was the only way to attract a buyer. Those that did drop their price did so by an average of 7%.
Our data shows the average home sold for 3.5% below the asking price in the first 3 months of 2026. That’s equal to £18,000 below the original advertised figure.
Getting a valuation before any viewings
Approaching a move in the right order is pivotal to selling.
More than 6 in 10 sellers (61%) viewed other properties before getting their own home valued. Some 32% went as far as making an offer on a property before getting a valuation.
For 21%, their inflated asking price was based on the amount needed to buy a home they’d already found. Unsurprisingly, 21.7% looked back and said their sale failed because they couldn’t achieve the price required.
Pricing for the market – not their move
Age and the reason for moving is linked to sales success. Younger sellers are more likely to be trading up the ladder, creating financial pressure to set a price that is unachievable.
The main reason under-35s were trying to sell was to trade up to a larger property (44%), with every penny from their sale counting. Our survey found only 52% of under-35s sold their home successfully, compared to 63% of those aged 65+.
Among under-35s, 26% looked back and realised they’d priced their home too high and 20% knowingly overpriced from day one.
On the other hand, the experience of older movers is clear.
As well as better completion rates, people aged 65+ in our survey were less likely to overprice their home at the start (6%). And they were less likely to look back and regret an inflated asking price (12%).
With 34% of those aged 65+ downsizing, they’re more likely to be moving to a less expensive property. It’s also likely that these older homeowners have built up more equity in their current home, reducing the pressure to achieve a higher price.
Using an estate agent to guide their success
Most people get estate agents to value their home as their first step of selling, and there’s an important link between taking pricing guidance from estate agents and getting a successful sale result.
Of the most successful sellers – the 55+ age group – 83% heavily relied on an agent’s pricing advice.
Conversely, far fewer under-35s (53%) were influenced by estate agents. The youngest sellers also took advice from family and friends.
Adam Day, Head of eXp UK and Europe, reinforces the importance of local knowledge:
“The market moves at very different speeds from one street, town or postcode to the next. This is why working with an experienced local agent is important.
“They will price your property appropriately, based on genuine local demand. They’ll also identify your home’s unique selling points – the ones most likely to resonate with buyers in your area.”