5 Things That Will Make Your Home “Unsellable” in 2025, Realtors Say

Whether you are preparing to list your home for sale or are wondering why it’s been sitting on the market for months without any action, you’ll want to turn to the pros for their expert advice.

Here, three real estate agents touch on five factors that will make a home unsellable and may explain why you’re not receiving much interest in your property. Keep reading to learn what to avoid in order to ensure your home is appealing to potential buyers.

Too Much Clutter

An open house is truly the time for your home to make a standout first impression, and it won’t do so if the space is filled with too many personal artifacts or items that give the appearance of a mess.

Clutter, family photos, children’s artwork, outlandish decorations, dirty dishes, broken items, and horrid smells are all items that Julie Mills, a realtor at J.S. Walker Associates, Inc., flags as off-putting to potential buyers.

“These items signal chaos, distract the buyers from seeing the design elements of your home, and may send up red flags that the home is not well-maintained,” she says.

Instead, be mindful to style your home so that it is universally pleasing, welcoming, and calming when people set foot inside.

“You want it to sparkle and shine,” Mills adds, noting that putting in some extra work ahead of time will help to secure the best buyer.

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Expensive Repairs

If you’ve been putting off expensive repairs due to the cost and time involved, consider tackling them before selling your home since potential buyers won’t want to take on these projects after they move in.

Issues such as a cracked foundation, mold or water damage such as from flooding, and deferred maintenance such as a compromised roof are all going to be seen as red flags during an open house, Erin Mara, who is an associate broker at Bloom Fine Properties, explains.

“All of these are big expenses for new homeowners to fix so they’ll look elsewhere,” she says.

Mara encourages sellers to clearly inspect their homes ahead of time so they know in advance what a buyer will find when they inspect and can act preemptively to make repairs.

Small Bathrooms

A small bathroom that lacks function or a proper layout is not going to impress potential buyers, according to David Palmieri, a licensed associate real estate broker with Corcoran. He cites small primary bathrooms without a double vanity as well as all en suite bathrooms (and no guest bathrooms) as two common issues.

On a similar note, many apartments in major cities are set up so that guests must pass through a bedroom in order to access a bathroom, which is a feature that most buyers will see as a major negative, Palmieri explains.

“This is very problematic when entertaining and will make or break why someone buys or doesn’t buy an apartment,” he says.

Lack of an Entryway

Most people do not want to immediately set foot into a home or apartment without walking through even a small entryway or foyer first, Palmieri notes, citing instances where the door opens directly into a living room or kitchen.

“More than ever, people appreciate having a well-curated foyer that welcomes its guests to an apartment and puts them in the right spirit for a space,” he says.

Mills agrees and explains how poor floor plans and layouts can be a turn-off for buyers because the space may come across as not functional and reimagining the space may be difficult.

Over-Pricing the Home

An overpriced home just isn’t going to move off of the market quickly, Mills explains, who notes that some buyers want to test the waters with a higher than appropriate listing price.

“Often, that decision comes back to hurt the seller,” she says.

Relying on an experienced realtor will ensure that your home is priced fairly with regard to the local market, Mills notes.