Every agent has been there: a property that’s been sitting on the market for weeks with little to no traction. Interest fades, energy drops, and both you and the client start to feel the frustration. That’s a red listing—and how you handle it can make all the difference.
Why Listings Turn Red
Most red listings surface around the six to nine-week mark of an agency agreement. By this point, one of two things usually happens:
Agent fatigue – You’ve lost the initial energy and excitement for the property.
Client doubt – The seller begins to question whether their property will sell at all.
Either way, the dynamic has shifted. The solution? A reset.
The Emotional & Energetic Reset
Red listings require more than tactical adjustments—they need a mindset shift. This means:
- Reconnecting with the property as if it’s brand new.
- Bringing fresh energy and enthusiasm back into your conversations and marketing.
- Helping the client regain confidence in the process.
Why a Second Voice Helps
One of the smartest strategies for red listings is to bring in another trusted voice. This isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of professionalism. A colleague, mentor, or manager can offer a new perspective and, importantly, ask the seller powerful reset questions without the baggage of weeks of back-and-forth.
Questions like:
- “What’s the big picture for you in selling this property?”
- “What do you want to achieve once the property is sold?”
This creates an opportunity for the client to restate their goals, while you regain alignment and rebuild trust.
From Red to Amber to Green
Think of your listings like a stoplight. Green listings are destined to sell. Amber needs more momentum. The aim with a red listing isn’t to force an instant sale. Instead, it’s to get the light to change—to move it from red to amber, and then from amber to green.
That starts by identifying the three most important actions you can take right now to re-energise the property and rebuild confidence with the client.
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