5 Reasons Failed Listings Make Great Agent Leads

Just because a listing didn’t sell the first time doesn’t mean the seller has given up. On the contrary, many sellers with failed listings are desperate to get their homes back on the market to sell. They just need some extra help.

As a real estate agent, failed listings are a prime opportunity to turn past failure into future success. After all, these homeowners have already signaled their intent to sell. Your job is to help them see a better path forward with your experience, data, and tools. 

What Counts as a Failed Listing?

A failed listing is a property that was listed for sale but was eventually taken off the market. This could be because the listing period expired or because the seller withdrew the listing. Either way, the seller tried to sell the property but was unsuccessful. 

Here are the top five reasons failed listings make great agent leads:

1. The Seller Is Still Motivated

If a homeowner previously listed their property, chances are they still want to sell (especially if they listed recently). The reason listings fail is not a lack of motivation but, more often, poor marketing, overpricing, or unfavorable market conditions. 

For agents, this is an opportunity to step in and offer a new approach. Whether the owner was trying to sell on their own (aka FSBO) or with a less experienced agent, they may be open to professional advice now that they’ve experienced disappointment. 

2. They May Want a Fresh Set of Eyes

A failed listing means the seller’s marketing strategy didn’t work. As a result, many sellers seek new ideas and perspectives on what went wrong and what could be improved. 

This is your opportunity to offer a fresh set of eyes and position yourself as a problem-solver. Review the previous listing, notice where it could be improved, and present a revised strategy. To prove your value upfront, you may want to offer a no-obligation listing audit or consultation.

3. You Have Insight Into What Didn’t Work

Not every listing is created equal. Some are more compelling than others. As you analyze the original listing’s photos, description, pricing, and days on market, you can identify possible missteps to correct.

That said, you don’t need to rely solely on your gut. You can find data to verify and support your claims. For example, run a local comp study to determine the most effective listing price to drive a sale. Then share this information with your client to build their trust in you as a professional.

4. You May Already Have a Base of Marketing Materials to Work With

A failed listing may still have salvageable material, including photos, property specs, and other marketing materials. Instead of creating a new listing from scratch, start with the original listing to save on time and cost. 

This shows an eye for efficiency that can further build the seller’s trust in you. Let them know you’ll enhance the original property listing, e.g., with a revised listing description, improved photo editing, or better virtual staging.

Bonus Tip: Nurture Failed Listing Leads Over Time

Not every failed listing owner is ready to relist immediately. That’s okay. Use tools like PropStream to send leads periodic emails that educate and keep you top of mind. These could include local market updates, home prep checklists, or client success stories. Staying in touch without being pushy can turn a cold lead into a hot one when the time is right.

5. You Can Uncover These Leads With Data Tools Like PropStream

Finally, finding failed listings is easy with the right tools. For instance, PropStream lets you create lead lists for failed listings in your market based on custom filters. Each time a new failed listing meets your criteria, you can enable notifications or have it automatically added to the list. That way, you can maintain a steady stream of high-quality leads to work with.

Furthermore, PropStream’s built-in skip tracing and marketing features make it easy to reach out to property owners quickly and efficiently. Whether you want to make direct phone calls, launch a targeted direct mail campaign, or send personalized emails, PropStream streamlines the entire process, helping you go from identifying a lead to making contact in just a few clicks.

Ultimately, failed listings aren’t failures. They’re just waiting for the right agent. With PropStream, you can pinpoint these hidden gems and become the solution homeowners are searching for. 
Ready to position yourself as the agent who can finally get the deal done? Start your free 7-day trial, and we’ll give you 50 saves to get started. That’s 50 chances to turn frustration into success—for your clients and your business.