The 10-Second Test: Can Your Listing Pass the Scroll?
Picture this: a buyer is thumbing through listings on their phone while waiting in line at the grocery store. Youâve got maybe 10 secondsâtopsâbefore they swipe past your home.
Thatâs the new reality of selling. First impressions happen on a screen. And they happen fast.
So if youâre thinking about putting your home on the market, ask yourself this: Does your listing actually make someone pause?
Buyers Are Looking Differently Than They Used To
Buyers today are moving fastâand theyâre overwhelmed. Theyâre scrolling in apps, comparing homes side by side, and relying on photos to help them decide whatâs worth seeing in person. If your listing doesnât catch their eye right away, itâs probably not getting a second look.
Most buyers wonât even consider a showing unless the listing catches their eye online first. That means your photography, staging, and online presence matter long before you ever set foot in a negotiation.
And while the pace of the market has cooled slightly, things are still moving quickly in many areas. According to Redfin, about 38% of homes that went under contract in June 2025 did so within two weeks of being listed. Thatâs slower than the frenzied pace of recent yearsâbut still fast enough that sellers canât afford to overlook presentation.
What Is the 10-Second Rule?
If someone sees your home in a feed of 20 other listings, does it stop them long enough to click?
Thatâs the test.
Getting someone to stop doesnât come from a long description or a list of features. It comes from the visualâwhat they see first. If that lead photo isnât clean, bright, and inviting, itâs likely getting skipped.
Hereâs how most buyers interact with listings today:
They skim photos more than they read
They click only on listings that feel polished
They move on quickly from anything that looks dark, cluttered, or outdated
They follow the photos like a virtual tourâand lose interest if itâs hard to follow
And hereâs the part many sellers miss: the things that grab attention arenât always the most expensive updates. Often, itâs the clean kitchen, the natural light, the thoughtfully arranged furniture. The details matter, and how those details are photographed matters even more.
How to Stop the Scroll: 5 Key Elements That Make a Listing Stand Out
1. Professional Photos
Photos are the first showing. Good ones create space, highlight the best features, and feel intentional. Theyâre taken at the right time of day, with the right angles and lighting. And they make even simple spaces feel welcoming.
Phone snapshots, on the other hand, tend to look cramped and darkâand buyers notice.
2. Bright, Clean, and Uncluttered Rooms
Buyers are trying to picture themselves living in the home. Thatâs harder to do when photos show a fridge covered in magnets or a bathroom with personal items on the counter.
Less is more. Clean surfaces, open blinds, and a few neutral pieces make a space feel fresh without feeling staged.
3. A Strong First Image
Your first photo is your digital handshake. Itâs what buyers see when your listing pops up in their feedâand it plays a huge role in whether they decide to click.
Think carefully about which image you lead with. Maybe itâs a beautifully staged living room, a bright kitchen, or great curb appeal. Choose something that draws the eye and gives a sense of whatâs to come.
4. A Thoughtful Photo Sequence
Buyers expect the photos to tell a story. When the order is jumbledâlike going from the bathroom to the backyard and then to a hallwayâit creates confusion.
A good photo flow moves through the home like a walk-through. Start with the main living areas, then work through bedrooms, bathrooms, and outdoor space.
5. Mobile-Friendly Formatting
Most people browse listings on their phones. If your photos are out of order, too small, or slow to load, youâre losing interest before it even has a chance to build.
A good agent will make sure your listing is optimized for every deviceâso no matter where someoneâs looking, your home looks its best.
6: The Price Must be Right
Put yourself in a buyerâs shoes and start scrolling through the homes in your area. Beyond everything else in this list, the listed price just may be the most influential.
With more homes sitting on the market longer than in recent memory, buyers have more options to choose from. Pricing your property competitively is another advantage when youâre looking to catch their attention.
Why This Isnât Just a âNice to Haveâ
When your home looks great online, it gets more clicks, more showings, and more serious buyers. Itâs not about tricking anyone. Itâs about helping people connect with the spaceâand giving your home its best chance at standing out.
And this doesnât need to be a solo mission. A good agent will help you plan, prep, and present your home the right way. Theyâll bring in the right photographer, know how to sequence your photos, and make sure your listing actually shows up where buyers are looking.
Thatâs the difference between âletâs wait and seeâ and âletâs go see it.â
Before You List...
Scroll through a few listings in your neighborhood. Which ones catch your eye? Which ones make you stop? Now imagine your home in that lineup.
Would you pause on your own listing? Would you click?
If youâre not sureâor if the answer is âprobably notââyouâve got time to get it right. You donât need to renovate or redecorate. You just need a plan and a few key decisions that help your home show up well.
And if youâre not selling just yet? Save this for later. When the time comes, youâll be ready to hit the market with a listing that actually gets noticed.
Thinking about selling your home?
Let's make that first impression count.