What to do if your house isn’t selling

Why isn’t my house selling?

• Price. The most common reason. If you get inspections but no offers, buyers think it is overpriced against what they have seen.
• Presentation. Dark or poor photos, clutter, or visible repairs put buyers off before they visit.
• Marketing. A listing that misses the buyers most likely to pay, such as interstate investors for a rented property.
• Agent effort. Few open homes, slow follow-up, little feedback to you.

For a benchmark, cairns properties took a median 57 days to sell in November 2026. (Spachus, Cairns Property Market, November 2026) Well past that, something needs to change.

Can I change agents in Queensland?

Yes, but how depends on the type of appointment you signed.

• Open listing: you or the agent can end it at any time by giving written notice.
• Sole or exclusive agency: the maximum term is 90 days. If the term is longer than 60 days, either party can end it after 60 days by giving at least 30 days’ written notice.
• If it isn’t ended properly and you sell through another agent, you could owe two commissions.

Source: Queensland Government, Appointing a real estate agent, updated 19 July 2024. This is general information, not legal advice. Read your own appointment form and get independent legal advice before you act.

How do I relist after a failed campaign?

1. Take it off the market for a few weeks if the listing has gone stale.
2. Get a second-opinion price from an agent who wasn’t involved.
3. Fix what buyers said. Ask for every piece of inspection feedback.
4. New photos and a new description, so it looks like a new listing.
5. Relaunch at the right price, with a clear plan from your agent.

Tony Williamson has sold Cairns property since the late 1980s and is happy to give a second opinion on a property that hasn’t sold. About Tony

Last updated 3 November 2026