Curious about the #1 regret homeowners have when they sell their home without an agent? It’s realizing they didn’t set the right price for their home in the current market.
Recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that for many sellers, pricing their home correctly was the toughest challenge they faced during the process.
Top 5 Challenges for Sellers Who Opted Not to Use an Agent:
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Setting the right price
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Preparing or repairing the house
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Selling within their desired timeframe
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Managing the legal paperwork
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Finding the time to handle all aspects of the sale
This makes sense. Setting the right price isn’t as simple as looking up an online estimate or matching a neighbor’s sale from last year. It requires understanding:
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What buyers are willing to pay right now
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The level of competition in your area
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The actual selling prices of similar homes nearby
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How desirable your neighborhood is
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The current condition of your home
Without this insight, it’s easy to make the mistake of overpricing, especially since today’s buyers tend to be more selective. And in the current market, overpricing can have serious consequences.
Overpricing Can Have a Ripple Effect
Your asking price shapes a buyer’s first impression. When it’s too high, it can trigger a chain reaction.
If buyers think your price is too steep, they’ll pass on your home. That leads to fewer showings. Fewer showings result in fewer offers, and fewer offers usually mean you’ll have to drop the price to attract buyers.
This is a common issue, especially for homes sold without a professional agent.
The latest NAR report shows that nearly 60% of homes sold without an agent had to lower their asking price at least once (see the orange section in the graph below).
The Hidden Problem Sellers Don’t See Coming
However, price cuts don’t always resolve the issue. Often, they only attract bargain hunters rather than serious buyers. Many buyers see a price reduction as a red flag that something might be wrong with the property, which could push them away.
By the time your home finally sells, you might end up with a lower net price than if you’d priced it correctly from the start. The data supports this.
According to NAR, homes sold with an agent net nearly 8% more than those sold without one.
This isn’t because agents magically increase the value of the property. It’s because they have the expertise to get everything right—the price, the preparation, the presentation, and the paperwork.
Getting all of these elements right from the beginning can help you maximize your sale price.
So, even though you might think selling without an agent will save you money, the facts show that it could actually cost you in the long run. This could completely shift your perspective on the process.
In Conclusion
The biggest risk of selling without an agent today isn’t the paperwork or the inconvenience—it’s the pricing. Once the price is wrong, it’s difficult to recover.
If you’re considering selling and want to know what your home is truly worth in the current market, let’s have a conversation. A quick chat about pricing now could help you avoid costly regrets down the road.