Can I delete and relist my property to get back to the top?

The short answer is no. Both Realestate.com.au (REA) and Domain have very strict "anti-churning" policies. They are designed to prevent the search results from being cluttered with the same houses appearing as "new" every week.

They are smarter than you think

Portals don't just look at the date you hit "publish." They use sophisticated algorithms to match your property based on:

• The Address: The primary way they track a property.
• The Title/Legal Description: Even if you change the headline, the underlying data remains the same.
• Image Recognition: They can often detect if the same photos are being reused for the same address.

If you delete a listing and immediately create a new one for the same property, the portals will usually automatically link the new ad to the old one. This means your "new" ad will keep the old "days on market" counter and stay exactly where it was in the search results.

The Risk of Penalties

If a portal detects that a seller is deliberately trying to "game" the system by deleting and relisting:

• Shadowbanning: Your listing may be pushed even further down the rankings as a penalty.
• Suspension: In extreme cases, the portal can suspend the listing entirely until a manual investigation is completed.
• Wasted Fees: You may end up paying for a new listing only for it to be merged with your old one, meaning you've paid twice for the same position.

Understanding the Ranking Hierarchy

Rather than trying to "trick" the system, it’s better to understand how the portals actually decide who gets to be at the top.

As shown in the hierarchy, a "Standard" listing will always be below "Feature," "Highlight," and "Premiere" listings, regardless of how recently it was uploaded. If there are 30 Premiere listings in your suburb, your new Standard listing will start on Page 2 or 3 on day one.

The "Right" Way to Get a Fresh Start

If your listing has truly reached the end of its cycle and you need a "reset," there are two legitimate ways to do it:

Option A: The 3-Month "Season" Relaunch ($395)

To be recognized as a genuine "New Listing" by REA and Domain, the property generally needs to be off the market for at least 90 days (3 months). * After 3 months, the portals treat it as a fresh campaign with a new Listing ID and a "Day 0" counter.

• This is perfect for sellers who want to try a new season (e.g., moving from a Winter to a Spring campaign).

Option B: The Upgrade Path

If you don't want to wait 3 months, an upgrade is the only way to move up.

• Upgrading to a Feature or Highlight listing will instantly pull you above all Standard listings in your suburb.
• It also gives you a larger ad "tile," which significantly increases your click-through rate.

Option C: The "Price Step" Trigger

A small price reduction triggers an automated "Price Reduced" alert to every buyer who has saved your property. This is a free way to "bump" your relevance without needing to relist.

Trying to "delete and relist" is a high-risk, low-reward strategy. It usually results in the portal merging your ads and keeping you in the same spot. If you want more eyes on your property, focus on Price or Upgrades.

Updated on: 25/02/2026