How Long Should a House Sit on the Market Before Selling?

If it feels like it’s taking forever to sell your house, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate a few things. We asked Clarissa Marshall, an agent in Asheville, North Carolina, “How long should a house sit on the market?” We also did some digging to find out the average number of days houses are staying on the market, why, and what can be done to shorten that time. Minimize Days On Market: Sell With a Top Agent HomeLight analyzes millions of real estate transactions to find top real estate agents — agents who sell homes faster and for more money than average agents. To minimize the number of days your house sits on the market, connect with an agent who knows your area and will go above and beyond. The DOM (days on market) factor According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), DOM — days on market — indicates the number of days from when the property was first listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to the date a seller signs a contract of sale. DOM can signal market liquidity. In a seller’s market where inventory is lower than demand, the days on market are expected to be few in number. In a buyer’s market where inventory exceeds demand, days on market are expected ...