In big-city real estate, people love to say, “If your home hasn’t sold in 30 days, it’s overpriced.”
But in the Battlefords, that rule has never really matched how our market works.
We’re a smaller community, with a smaller buyer pool, a wide range of home quality, and a unique mix of custom, older, and builder-standard homes. That means higher-end or more unique properties simply behave differently — and time on the market doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong.
Let’s break down what actually happens here.
1. A Smaller Market Means a Smaller Buyer Pool — Especially at the Top End
The Battlefords doesn’t have dozens of buyers in every price bracket each month. For homes in the mid-to-high range:
The number of qualified buyers is limited
They tend to move slower and be more selective
Many need to sell first
Relocations, job changes, or financing take time
So 90–180 days for a well-priced, higher-end home here is normal.
A fast sale in the first 30 days is more “good timing” than “good pricing.”
This isn’t negative — it’s simply how small markets work.
2. Pricing Must Reflect Quality, Not Just Square Footage
One of the biggest challenges in the Battlefords is that home quality varies dramatically:
We have exceptionally built custom homes
Very solid 1970s/80s homes with quality materials
Gaps in building through the 90s and early 2000s
Post-2007 homes that focus more on cosmetics than structure
So when a buyer compares a high-quality, well-maintained home to a basic builder-standard property, the prices can’t realistically match.
Replacement cost is often far higher than resale value.
Buyers need help understanding the value behind the walls, not just the paint colour.
Good representation matters here — buyers do not always recognize the difference without it.
3. And Yes — Not Every Home Gets Shown Equally
This is the part sellers rarely see, but it affects days on market.
In smaller markets:
Some agents prefer fast, easy sales
Some only show homes they think will write quickly
Some underestimate or overlook high-end features
And some simply don’t show every property that could fit a buyer
Most of the time, it’s not intentional — it’s habits, assumptions, or working styles.
But it does mean strong, visible, repeated marketing makes a difference.
And it means sellers need an agent who explains value clearly so their home stands out, even when buyers aren’t being shown every option.
4. So When Should a Seller Actually Adjust Price?
Definitely not on Day 30.
Price adjustments should be based on information, not time:
No showings at all?
The market may not understand the value at the current price.Showings but no offers?
That usually points to expectations or affordability.Consistent buyer feedback?
That’s when adjustments make sense.Competing listings shifting?
Market changes can require updates.
But a unique, well-built, quality home?
Those simply take longer to find the right buyer — and the right buyer will pay within reason when they understand what they’re getting.
5. What Buyers Should Understand in the Battlefords
Our inventory isn’t large.
Our pool of quality homes is even smaller.
And the next comparable property may not appear for months — or years.
If buyers want:
quality construction
premium materials
rare locations
strong mechanical systems
or custom design
…those homes will hold their value.
They are not competing with the lowest-priced home in town.
Buyers need to evaluate value, not just price.
6. What Sellers Should Keep in Mind
The goal is the right buyer, not the fastest one.
In a small market:
Days on market do not equal “problem.”
You do not lower the price just because the calendar flipped.
Strong marketing, visibility, and clear explanation of value matter.
A high-quality home, priced correctly for what it truly offers, will sell — the timeline will simply reflect the size of the market, not the quality of the property.
Final Thought
The Battlefords isn’t driven by speed.
It’s driven by value and fit.
If a home is priced fairly for the quality, location, and features it offers, the right buyer will come — even if it takes longer than 30 days. Time on market is not the enemy here. Misunderstanding value is.
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