3 Reports to Run When Your Baton Rouge Home Isn't Selling

By Darren James

Darren James is a highly accomplished real estate professional and the founder of one of Baton Rouge’s premier real estate firms. With over 20 years of experience in selling and marketing real estate.

A lot of clients ask me the same question: “Darren, what in the world do I do if my house isn’t selling?” It’s one of the most frustrating spots for a seller. Your home is listed, the days are ticking by, and the showings and offers just aren’t there. You don’t have to guess your way out of it.

If your house is already on the market and stalling, here are the three updated reports your agent should run, along with what each one tells you.

1. Start with an updated comparative market analysis. You may have heard this one called a CMA. It pulls the value of your home using hyper-local, neighborhood-specific numbers, so you’re looking at what comparable homes right around you are actually doing. If your listing has been sitting, you want a fresh read on that number, because the market you priced into a few weeks ago may no longer be the one you’re in today.

2. Then run a total market overview. This one is called a TMO, and it widens the lens to your entire ZIP code, accounting for the competition, the supply and demand, and everything moving within that local economy. Set it side by side with your CMA. The CMA tells you about your home and immediate neighborhood; the TMO tells you about the broader market you’re competing in. Together is where the real picture comes into focus.

3. Finish with an absorption rate report. This one tells you the supply of homes on the market and, theoretically, how long it would take to sell off the remaining inventory in your price range, assuming no new homes come on. It’s a powerful gut check on whether your price range is moving or backed up. Take all three reports together, get an updated number, and market the property like a fresh listing.

If you’ve done all that and you’re still not getting showings or offers, ask yourself one important question: Are you in the market, or just on the market?

There’s a big difference. Being listed isn’t the same as being competitive. The CMA, the TMO, and the absorption rate together will tell you the truth about where you really stand against the competition.

From there, the move usually isn’t a dramatic price cut. It’s a strategic, incremental reduction. A lot of sellers think they have to drop five or ten thousand dollars at a time, but why give that up if a one or two thousand dollar adjustment could have gotten you the same offer? Weigh those numbers, make smaller intentional reductions, and watch what the market tells you through showings and offers.

If your home is sitting and you want a straight answer on why, let’s run the numbers together. For more on what it takes to sell your home fast in Baton Rouge, I’ve got you covered. Call or text me at 225-335-7666, email me at darren@agent225.com, or visit agent225.com. Let’s get your home where it needs to be, and happy selling to you.