What hurts a property for sale the most?

Insight

When asked “What’s worse for a property for sale?” over half of respondents (54%) said “Wrong price” is the biggest problem. Far behind, noticeable smells (21%), clutter (13%), and bad photos (12%) divided the remaining votes.

The takeaway is clear: while presentation issues matter, nothing derails a listing more than setting the wrong price. A property can look, feel, and photograph beautifully—but if the price is off, buyers quickly lose interest.

What Most People Miss

Here’s where it gets interesting. In last month’s poll, decluttering and staging emerged as the most powerful driver of achieving a higher sale price. This month, however, clutter landed at the bottom of the list of deal-breakers.

At first glance, the two results seem to contradict each other. In reality, they highlight an important nuance: what helps a property sell for more isn’t always the same as what prevents it from selling at all.

Why does price dominate as the deal-breaker? Because buyers don’t just see an inflated price tag as a number—they interpret it as a signal. An overpriced property often creates the impression that the seller is unrealistic or trying to take advantage, which leads buyers to dismiss the listing altogether. Presentation can spark interest, but if the price sets off alarm bells, the property never even gets a fair look.

That’s the real lesson: success in selling isn’t about one factor—it’s about aligning price and presentation at the same time.

What turns buyers off the most?

Insight

The results show that price remains the single biggest deal-breaker for buyers—58% of respondents said an overpriced property turns them off the most. While cluttered interiors (23%) and poor listing photography (14%) also play a role, they are far less influential than price. Bold décor, often assumed to be polarizing, barely registered with 5% of the votes.

This reinforces a clear truth in today’s market: buyers are willing to look past imperfections in presentation, but they quickly walk away when the numbers don’t make sense.

What Most People Miss

At first glance, the results might suggest that presentation matters less than price. But the nuance lies here: price and presentation don’t operate in isolation—they amplify each other.

An overpriced property isn’t just rejected for the number on the page. It often creates a perception problem: buyers assume the seller is unrealistic or inflexible, which undermines trust. Pair that with poor photography or visible clutter, and buyers dismiss the home before even stepping inside.

Header image courtesy of Susette Prada. 7405 SW 104th St Pinecrest FL. View property here.

^{Poll conducted across Fortune Christie’s social media platforms in 2025. Responses include buyers, sellers, and agents.}