- According to the Kenya Property Centre’s Q3 2026 report, the median time to sell among 209 completed sales recorded on its platform was 579 days.
- Your asking price may have made sense when you bought the property or first put it on the market.
- Beyond the number of bedrooms, give them the information they need to make a decision.
- Before making a major change, step back and look at the listing as a buyer would.
You listed your property expecting enquiries to come in. Maybe they did at first. But months later, it is still on the market.
So, what is going wrong?
It may not be the property itself. Sometimes, the problem is how it is priced, presented or positioned against the other properties buyers are seeing.
According to the Kenya Property Centre’s Q3 2026 report, the median time to sell among 209 completed sales recorded on its platform was 579 days. This isn't a national average, but it does show how long some properties can remain on the market before a deal is completed.
If your property has been listed for months, here are a few things worth reconsidering.
Start with the price
Your asking price may have made sense when you bought the property or first put it on the market. But buyers are looking at what their money can get them today.
Look at comparable properties in the same area. What are they asking? What do they offer? How does your property compare on size, condition, amenities, location and service charge?
You may not need to reduce the price, but you do need to know whether it is competitive.
Look at the listing through a buyer's eyes
A buyer scrolling through property listings needs to understand the property quickly.
Beyond the number of bedrooms, give them the information they need to make a decision. Include the size, key features, parking, amenities, service charge, location and anything that makes the property different.
Your listing should answer the obvious questions before the buyer has to ask them.
Don't underestimate your photos
Good property photography can make the difference between someone stopping at your listing and scrolling past it.
Dark rooms, blurry images, clutter and poor angles can make a property look less appealing than it actually is.
Start with a strong first image, show the important spaces and give buyers a clear sense of the property. Think of the photos as the first viewing.
Know who you're trying to reach
A property isn't necessarily going to appeal to everyone.
A two-bedroom apartment close to Nairobi's business districts may attract a young professional or investor. A larger home with outdoor space may appeal more to a family.
Knowing your likely buyer helps you highlight the features that matter to them instead of simply listing everything the property has.
Remember that buyers have options
In a marketplace, your property is being viewed alongside others.
Someone looking for a three-bedroom apartment could be comparing several properties in the same neighbourhood before deciding which ones to enquire about.
That means small differences can matter. Better presentation, clearer information, a more competitive price or more flexible terms can all influence which listing gets the click.
Pay attention to the response
Your listing activity can also tell you where the problem might be.
If the property gets views but very few enquiries, the price or presentation may need another look.
If you're getting enquiries but people aren't progressing to viewings, there could be questions around the property, terms or information that aren't being addressed.
Instead of simply waiting for a buyer, use that feedback to make informed changes.
Before you change the price, change your approach
A property that has been sitting on the market for months isn't necessarily a bad property.
It may need better photos, a stronger description, more competitive pricing or simply to be positioned in front of the right buyer.
Before making a major change, step back and look at the listing as a buyer would.
Would you click on it? Would you have enough information to enquire? And, with everything else available, would you choose it?
Those questions could tell you more about why your property isn't selling than simply lowering the price.
