You would think that in a seller’s market, the challenges facing those putting their homes up for sale would be less onerous than the challenges of those looking to buy. However, high home prices and mortgage rates, along with a supply shortage, have kept first-time homebuyers out of the market and homeowners reluctant to sell their properties.
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Will anything change in 2025? Many are predicting a slower rate of house price increases this year and a much higher number of homes for sale. And in any market, home sellers still have to deal with many challenges when deciding to list their property.
In October 2024, Clever Real Estate surveyed 1,000 American adults who expect to buy and/or sell a home in 2025 about their plans and predictions regarding their housing transaction. Here were the top six responses home sellers had when asked what they expected their biggest challenges to be when selling a home in 2025 — and how to overcome them.
Preparing the Home for Sale
Selling a home is a stressful event. According to an old Zillow survey from 2019, 36% of home sellers say the process left them in tears, and in 2025, home sale anxiety likely won’t be any easier than it was six years ago. In fact, 46% of home sellers in the Clever survey said preparing the home for sale will be their biggest challenge.
Prepare early, know when to sell, pump up the curb appeal and splurge on strategies that make your house irresistible (like high-resolution photography for the listing photos). And be ready to compromise with buyers on things they’ll appreciate.
If you’ve done all you can to sell your home the right way, you’ll shed fewer tears.
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Dealing With Necessary Repairs and Renovations
In the survey, 36% of sellers said dealing with repairs and renovations will be their biggest challenge.
Potential purchasers will be turned off by a long list of maintenance concerns. However, expensive, needless improvements rarely pay off in the long run. While you may believe that pricey upgrades will increase the value of your property, they actually reduce your potential return.
Instead of installing a solarium or swimming pool, get a home inspection and prioritize issues that may have an impact on your home’s safety or structure.
Pricing the Home Correctly
One of the most crucial decisions you will make is how much to ask for your house — and 34% of survey respondents anticipate that being their biggest challenge. You’ll lose potential customers if you set the price too high, and you’ll lose out on money if you set it too low.
Clever found that 80% of 2025 sellers plan to use a real estate agent, and especially for pricing, it makes sense to use an agent or have a broker perform a data-driven, comparative market analysis of your home.
Finding the Right Buyer
Finding the right buyer means keeping the largest pool of buyers in mind, and 28% of survey respondents see that as their biggest challenge when selling.
If you can’t offer the best location, emphasize other features that buyers with specific interests or needs would be intrigued by and be open to the most likely buyer for your area and home, not the “ideal” buyer, per U.S. News & World Report.
Coordinating a Home Sale and Purchase
The home selling process is made considerably more difficult financially when you’re also purchasing a new house. Juggling so many balls on both sides of the process can result in a lot of misjudging, and you can’t really predict when your house will sell. In the survey, 28% of respondents expect this to be their biggest challenge.
According to Rocket Mortgage, you should have a detailed plan of attack that includes evaluating the market, timing your sale/purchase wisely, preparing your home to sell well, getting all your financial ducks in a row, listing with a local agent and securing a down payment before looking for a new home.
Finding the Right Real Estate Agent
Selling a home is as stress-inducing as buying one. You’ll want to make the process run as smoothly as possible, and a reliable agent can act as a sounding board, navigate negotiations, complete necessary paperwork and identify potential challenges. But finding the right agent for you can be difficult.
Clever reported that 26% of respondents anticipate that to be their biggest challenge. This was tied with negotiating offers and timing the market.
Don’t overlook the importance of researching and interviewing an experienced agent who understands the market and can bring home a successful and stress-free sale.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Biggest Challenges Home Sellers Could Face in 2025 — and How To Avoid Them
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