Knowing When to Hit Pause: Why Sometimes It’s Smarter to Take Your Home Off the Market

As real estate agents, we always want to help our clients reach their goals—whether that’s selling a home quickly or holding out for the right buyer. But one of the most important parts of our job at Forti Homes is knowing when to not push for a sale. Sometimes, the best advice we can give a seller is to step back, reevaluate, and consider taking their property off the market—at least for now.

It may seem counterintuitive. After all, isn’t the whole point of listing your home to sell it? But real estate is never one-size-fits-all, and your circumstances can shift. As your realtor, we care just as much about your long-term financial well-being and peace of mind as we do about making a sale today.

Let’s talk about when and why it might make more sense to pause your listing instead of forcing a deal that doesn’t feel right.

1. Your Life Circumstances Changed—And That’s Okay

Sometimes, life just happens. A new job doesn’t pan out, a family member falls ill, or you realize your next move isn’t what you expected it to be. We’ve had sellers who were eager to list, only to realize two weeks later that selling right now just isn’t the best thing for their family. Our own FH agent Jackie had to deal with this recently.

"This is the most no-brainer reason for hitting pause or even stopping the whole home sale process," Jackie said. "It's not that anyone did anything wrong or that your house isn't desireable, it's just that you actually need it now." 

If you’re unsure about your next step or your situation has changed, forcing a sale can add unnecessary stress. In those cases, it's often better to step back and relist when you're fully ready. A pause isn’t a failure—it’s a strategic reset.

2. You’re Not Getting the Price You Want or Need

If a seller wants to list at a higher price, we absolutely respect that—it’s their home and their decision. Our job is to give honest, professional guidance based on the data and what we’re seeing in the market, but ultimately, we support their choice. Sometimes we have to test the market to really see what it’s willing to bear, even if that means adjusting later.

Sometimes that works. But other times, it’s better to ask: Is it really worth selling right now?

3. Your Home Has Been Sitting for Too Long

In some cases, your home may sit on the market for months without meaningful interest. That can be disheartening, but it's also a sign that something needs to change.

Rather than continuing to chase an elusive buyer, taking the home off the market allows you to reassess:

• Does the pricing align with current market conditions?

• Would staging or minor renovations help?

• Is the listing marketing strategy working?

"If your home has been listed for a while with minimal showings or no offers, that’s our cue to regroup," Jackie says. "Sometimes a little breathing room gives us the chance to reintroduce the home with a fresh perspective—and better results."

We can always come back stronger with a new plan when the timing is better.

4. The Market Isn’t Working in Your Favor

Markets shift. If you listed during a peak season but saw interest fizzle out, it might be worth waiting for better conditions. For instance, listing in early fall might be perfect for some neighborhoods, but others thrive in spring. Or maybe mortgage rates spiked just as your home hit the MLS, and buyers pulled back.

In cases like this, your agent can run fresh comps, review neighborhood trends, and help you decide if staying on the market is still worth it.

“It’s not giving up to wait for the right wave,” Jackie says. “It’s being strategic.”

Real estate isn’t always about moving fast—it’s about timing. And sometimes holding off a few months can completely change your outcome.

5. You’re Emotionally Not Ready

This part is harder to quantify, but it matters just as much. Selling a home isn’t just a transaction—it’s a major life event. If you’re feeling uncertain, conflicted, or emotionally overwhelmed by the process, that could be a sign to pause.

Your head and heart both have to be aligned when making this kind of decision. If they’re not, there’s no shame in waiting.

What Happens When You Take a Home Off the Market?

Taking a home off the market doesn’t mean starting from scratch. In fact, there are many options:

• Temporary Withdrawal: You can temporarily take your listing down while you make improvements or reassess pricing.

• Expired Listing: If your listing agreement ends, we can re-evaluate before relisting.

• Coming Soon: We might relaunch as a “coming soon” listing to build fresh buzz when you’re ready.

The key is to work with an agent who knows how to guide that process. At Forti Homes, we’re not here to pressure you—we’re here to partner with you.

Final Thoughts

As a seller, you have the right to protect your investment, your time, and your emotional well-being. Sometimes that means closing a deal, but other times it means hitting pause. And that’s okay.

"I’d rather you feel confident and supported than rushed into a decision that doesn’t serve you long-term," Jackie says. "We’ll sell when the time is right—for you."

If you're thinking about selling—or if your listing just isn’t going the way you expected—reach out. Let’s have an honest conversation about what makes the most sense for your goals. Whether that means selling now or waiting a while, the Forti Homes team is here to help you every step of the way.