Days on Market
Days on Market improve when sellers prepare early, and planning ahead with JoJo helps homes sell faster, for better terms, and with far less stress. Too many homeowners wait until the last minute to think about selling, assuming they can simply put a sign in the yard and let the market do the rest. But in real estate, success is rarely accidental. The way a home is priced, prepared, and presented from day one has a direct impact on how long it sits for sale—and on the final result a seller achieves.
If you follow real estate at all, you’ve probably heard the term Days on Market (DOM). It’s one of the most important numbers attached to any listing. DOM measures how long a property remains actively for sale before it goes under contract—and it tells a powerful story about how well a home was positioned from the start.
I’ve talked in other blogs about pricing, staging, curb appeal, and the importance of preparing your home for sale. But today, I want to bring all of those ideas together and do a simple, real-world comparison:
What happens to Days on Market when a seller truly prepares to sell… versus when a seller just puts a home on the market and hopes for the best?
The difference is often dramatic—and it all starts with one key decision: when you decide to call your agent.
Seller #1: The Prepared Seller
The prepared seller understands one simple truth: you only get one first impression. When a home is thoughtfully prepared, priced correctly, and launched with intention, it tends to create early momentum—more showings, stronger offers, better terms, and fewer Days on Market. That’s not luck. That’s planning.
Days on Market
What “prepared” really looks like
Preparing doesn’t mean remodeling your entire house. It means eliminating buyer objections, strengthening presentation, and making sure the home shows as confident and cared-for from day one. Here are the most important seller steps:
- Pre-list strategy meeting: Define goals, timing, buyer expectations, and a launch plan.
- Condition review: Identify issues that could slow showings, inspections, or negotiations.
- Targeted repairs: Fix what matters most—avoid overspending on low-return projects.
- Declutter + depersonalize: Help buyers picture themselves living in the space.
- Deep clean: Clean sells—especially when buyers have options.
- Curb appeal checklist: First impressions begin at the driveway, not the front door.
- Photo-ready presentation: Your first showing happens online.
- Proper pricing from day one: Overpricing is one of the biggest reasons homes sit.
Seller #2: The Unprepared Seller
The unprepared seller waits until the last minute, lists quickly, and assumes the market will do the heavy lifting. In reality, skipping preparation usually increases Days on Market—and creates a chain reaction that can cost time, terms, and money.
Days on Market
Why unprepared homes tend to sit
- Buyers decide fast: If photos show clutter, dim lighting, or obvious maintenance issues, many buyers move on instantly.
- Showings without offers: The home gets compared to better-prepared listings—and loses.
- DOM creates doubt: Once a listing “ages,” buyers start asking, “What’s wrong with it?” even when nothing is.
- Price reductions become more likely: Longer DOM often leads to reactive price cuts instead of a confident launch.
- Negotiations get tougher: Buyers feel more leverage when a home has been sitting.
The Missing Piece: When Should You Call JoJo?
This is where Days on Market really begins. Many homeowners call an agent when they’re ready to list. But the timeline before listing is what determines how smooth—and how fast—the sale will be.
12 months out: Call to plan.
6 months out: Call to prepare.
3 months out: Call to execute.
30 days or less: It becomes rushed—and your options shrink.
12 months out: the “thinking about it” stage
If you’re considering selling within the next year, this is an ideal time to reach out. We can talk through the market, your goals, and which improvements are truly worth doing—so you don’t waste money on projects that won’t move the needle.
6 months out: the smart seller window
This is the sweet spot for most sellers. There’s time to tackle the right repairs, plan decluttering and organization, schedule contractors, and build curb appeal—without rushing. This is often where sellers see the biggest DOM advantage.
3 months out: execution mode
Three months is a realistic minimum target. This is where you finalize repairs, cleaning, staging decisions, pricing strategy, and photography timing. The goal is a confident launch—not a last-minute list.
30 days or less: the last-minute seller
Can JoJo help in a short timeframe? Yes. But the process is more limited and often more stressful. When sellers wait until the final weeks, small issues become big problems, and Days on Market often rises because the home enters the market under-prepared.
The Bottom Line on Days on Market
Days on Market isn’t just about the market—it’s about how you enter the market. A well-prepared home tells buyers, “This is a great opportunity—act fast.” An unprepared home tells buyers, “Take your time, there’s no rush.” That difference can change everything.
Step Into The Role of a Seller
You may not be in the business of flipping houses, but the moment you begin thinking about selling your home, you step into the role of a seller. And at that point, you really have two choices. You can treat your home like the valuable asset it is—taking the time to prepare it properly with guidance from a professional like JoJo so it’s positioned to sell for top dollar. Or you can simply list it as-is and hope the market is kind. One approach is strategic and proactive; the other is reactive and uncertain. In the end, the choice is yours—but your Days on Market will almost always reflect the decision you make. Choosing an agent like JoJo means you’ll receive top-notch representation, expert guidance, and active marketing across multiple platforms—all designed to help your home sell faster and for the best possible terms. When you are thinking of selling, JoJo is ready to show you how simple it can be to prepare for top dollar.
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