[Survey] 115 People Share Regrets Over Selling Vacant Houses: Top Pitfalls and Key Steps to Take Before Selling

AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenji Kawada) conducted a survey on 115 people with experience in selling vacant houses regarding 'regrets about selling vacant houses' and compiled the data into a ranking.

Detailed results are published on the 'Akiya Kaitoritai' website ( https://akiya-kaitoritai.com/regrets-selling-empty-house/ ).

It is not uncommon for people to sell vacant houses, such as inherited childhood homes or properties no longer in use. However, because selling a vacant house is not a frequent event, some people end up regretting their decisions, wishing they had taken different steps.

In response, Akiya Kaitoritai ( https://akiya-kaitoritai.com/ ), operated by AlbaLink Co., Ltd. ( https://albalink.co.jp/ ), conducted an online survey of 115 vacant house sellers to identify their key regrets.

[Survey Overview] - Target Audience: People who have experience selling vacant houses - Survey Period: June 3 to June 10, 2026 - Survey Agency: In-house survey - Survey Method: Voluntary online survey - Valid Responses: 115 people (58 females / 57 males) - Respondents' Age Groups: 20s: 17.4%, 30s: 29.6%, 40s: 27.8%, 50s: 17.4%, 60s and older: 7.8%

[Survey Summary] - 63.5% of sellers have regrets about their vacant house sale. - The most common regret was 'not comparing multiple real estate operators.' - The root cause of these regrets was 'a lack of knowledge.' - The absolute must-do step to avoid regrets is 'consulting with multiple operators.'

63.5% of Sellers Have Regrets About Their Vacant House Sale Among the 115 respondents who have sold vacant houses, 63.5% reported having regrets, combining those who felt 'significant regret' (8.7%) and 'some regret' (54.8%). Conversely, more than 30% reported 'no regrets at all' (31.3%). Free-text responses from this satisfied group included comments such as, 'I researched thoroughly beforehand, listened to explanations from real estate companies, and was able to compare them.' This suggests that prior preparation and thorough consideration are key factors in overall satisfaction.

The Most Common Regret: 'Not Comparing Multiple Operators' (30.4%) The number one regret was 'not comparing multiple real estate operators' (30.4%), followed by 'selling at a low price' (18.3%) in second place. Other answers included 'unexpected high costs' (6.1%) in third, 'delayed sale' (5.2%) in fourth, and 'not considering alternative uses' (2.6%) in fifth. The first-ranked regret (lack of comparison) and the second-ranked regret (low selling price) are closely linked; many respondents felt that failing to compare different firms resulted in selling their properties at cheaper rates. Regrets concerning financial aspects, such as transaction prices and associated fees, were highly prominent.

<Comments from 1st-place respondents: Not comparing multiple operators> - 'I did not ask for appraisals from multiple real estate firms and just went ahead with the first company I consulted. If I had compared more options, I believe the terms and price would have been better.' (Female in her 30s) - 'I failed to seek multiple appraisals and proceeded with the initial conditions presented to me. Because I did not check market rates properly, I regret that I might have sold it for a higher price.' (Female in her 40s) - 'I decided on a single real estate company. When I researched local sales cases later, I realized I could have sold it for more. I was too eager to get rid of it quickly, so I regret not asking multiple firms for estimates.' (Male in his 60s or older)

Since vacant homes are not assets people trade regularly, some tend to accept all proposals made by a single real estate agency. Particularly when there is a strong urge to dispose of the property quickly, sellers often skip the effort of comparing appraisals or consulting multiple firms.