Getting Your Listings
Sold in 2026

Every real estate agent has experienced the frustration of a listing that won't move. In 2026's market — with higher interest rates, more cautious buyers, and increasing inventory in many markets — getting listings sold requires a sharper, more strategic approach than ever before. The good news? The strategies that work are learnable, repeatable, and backed by data.

Why Some Listings Sit and Others Sell

In her 30+ years of real estate experience — including running her own brokerage — Kim Donahue has identified a clear pattern: listings that sell quickly share four characteristics. They're priced correctly from day one, professionally staged, aggressively marketed across multiple channels, and supported by proactive agent engagement.

Listings that sit, on the other hand, typically suffer from one of three problems: overpricing, poor presentation, or insufficient marketing. Often, it's a combination of all three. Let's break down each element.

1. Pricing Strategy: Get It Right from Day One

The first 7–14 days a listing is on the market are the most critical. Research from the National Association of REALTORS® consistently shows that properties that receive an offer within the first two weeks sell for a higher percentage of list price than those that linger. Overpricing by even 5–10% can result in extended days on market, price reductions, and ultimately a lower final sale price.

Kim's approach to pricing combines data analysis with market intuition:

• Analyze 6–8 months of comparable sales, not just the most recent ones
• Adjust for condition, upgrades, lot characteristics, and micro-location differences
• Consider current inventory levels and buyer demand in the specific price range
• Factor in absorption rate — how many similar homes are selling per month in the area

"Pricing isn't a guessing game," Kim says. "It's a calculation. When you back it up with real data and explain it to your seller with confidence, you set the stage for a faster, more profitable sale."

2. Pre-Listing Preparation: Stage to Sell

Buyers form an opinion about a property within the first 7–10 seconds of walking through the door. Staging isn't about making a home look like a magazine spread — it's about creating an environment where buyers can envision themselves living.

As a Certified Home Staging Associate (CHSA), Kim recommends a three-tier approach to pre-listing preparation:

3. Multi-Channel Marketing: Go Beyond the MLS

Putting a listing on the MLS is the starting line, not the finish line. In 2026, top-producing agents treat every listing launch like a product launch — a coordinated, multi-channel campaign designed to reach the maximum number of qualified buyers.

Kim's listing marketing checklist includes:

• Professional photography — minimum 25–30 high-resolution photos shot with wide-angle lenses
• Video walkthrough — a 2–3 minute narrated video tour for social media and YouTube
• Drone footage — aerial views for properties with notable lots, views, or location advantages
• Social media campaign — targeted ads on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok reaching buyers in your price range and geographic area
• Email blast — to your database, other agents in your brokerage, and cooperating brokers
• Open house events — both in-person and virtual open houses to maximize traffic
• Print marketing — professional flyers, postcards for the surrounding neighborhood, and feature sheets for showings

"Most agents do maybe two or three of these," Kim says. "The agents who consistently sell faster and for more do all of them — and they do them systematically, not haphazardly."

4. Proactive Agent Engagement

The best listing agents don't wait for the phone to ring. They actively market their properties through agent-to-agent outreach, broker open houses, networking events, and direct outreach to buyer's agents who have clients in the price range.

In 2026, with the new buyer broker agreement requirements, this outreach is more important than ever. When buyer's agents understand the value your listing offers — and when you've made it easy for them to show and sell your property — you create a competitive environment that benefits your seller.

5. Negotiation: Protecting Your Seller's Bottom Line

Getting an offer is only half the battle. The negotiation process — inspection repairs, appraisal contingencies, closing timeline — can make or break a deal. Kim teaches agents to negotiate from a position of strength, using data and preparation to defend every dollar.

Key negotiation principles for sellers' agents:

• Pre-inspect the property before listing to address issues proactively
• Document all repairs and upgrades with receipts and photos
• Set clear expectations with sellers about what's negotiable and what isn't
• Use market data to counter lowball offers — don't react emotionally
• Keep communication professional and solution-oriented throughout

Putting It All Together

Getting listings sold in 2026 isn't about luck — it's about executing a proven system consistently. Price it right, prepare it well, market it aggressively, engage proactively, and negotiate firmly. When all five elements work together, properties sell faster and for more.

Want to master these strategies with personalized coaching? Book a free strategy call with Kim Donahue to build a listing system that works in any market.