Expired Listing Turnaround
From 366 Days on the Market to Under Contract in One Day
Townhome · Santa Clara, Utah
A Santa Clara townhome had spent approximately one year on the market without selling. After reviewing the previous strategy, repositioning the property and relaunching it at $325,000, the home received two competing offers and went under contract in one day. It closed 28 days later for $314,000.
Before
366 days on market · 0 offers
After
Under contract in 1 day · 2 competing offers · closed at $314,000 in 28 days
The situation
After spending an entire year on the market, this Santa Clara townhome expired without selling. The property had originally been listed at $379,000 and was eventually reduced to $355,000, but it still failed to attract a buyer after 366 days on the market. Following the expiration, the owner attempted to sell the property independently as a For Sale By Owner.
The previous strategy
The previous listing description focused heavily on nearby stores and restaurants. After expiration, the owner tried to sell the property as a For Sale By Owner, believing the previous agent was the primary reason the home had not sold.
The diagnosis
The data showed that the previous pricing did not reflect what buyers were willing to pay in the current market. I walked the seller through the comparable sales and recommended relaunching the home at $325,000. The real issue was that the property needed a fresh launch built around current market evidence, stronger presentation, and a price that would motivate buyers to act.
What changed
Before returning to the market, we completed a focused cleaning and presentation process. I then built an entirely new marketing campaign: professional real estate photography, a stronger lead photograph, a rewritten benefit-focused property description, strategic positioning on Zillow, social media promotion, and promotion through The Ames Team’s marketing network. The new presentation emphasized the home’s condition, new tile flooring, private fenced backyard, spacious primary suite, low-maintenance lifestyle, and overall value.
How buyers responded
The relaunched listing drew immediate attention. Two buyers toured the townhome on the first day and both submitted offers, creating competition that had never materialized during the previous year on the market.
The result
On the first day, two buyers toured the property, both submitted offers, and the seller accepted an offer and went under contract that same day. After sitting unsold for 366 days under the previous listing, the property was officially under contract within one day of the relaunch. The home closed 28 days later for $314,000, with concessions related to buyer financing and repairs.
What this means for other sellers
A year without an offer is rarely a demand problem. It is usually a pricing, presentation or exposure problem. When the price matches how buyers actually search, and the marketing answers the objections buyers actually raise, a stale listing can behave like a brand-new one.
"Overall, I was very impressed with the attention to detail that David with the Ames Team showed. Professional and a positive attitude that set me at ease. You want the best, it’s the Ames Team. Thank you for all your knowledge and making me feel like my little house mattered enough to sell—and sell fast. That blew my mind how quick this went."
Published with the seller's permission. Results vary by property, price point, condition and market conditions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Educational information only — not financial, tax, investment or legal advice.