Avoid These Common Errors That Cost Sellers Thousands

Selling your home is emotional—understandably so. But when it comes to pricing, emotion often leads to costly mistakes. I’m Brendan Moran with Five Star Real Estate, and I want to help you avoid the most common—and expensive—pitfalls sellers make when listing their homes.

1. Overpricing

This is the #1 mistake we see, and it happens all the time.

Homeowners often overvalue their property because of memories, upgrades, or how much they "need" to get from the sale. But the market doesn’t care about those things—it only cares about value compared to other homes for sale.

If you price your home too high, buyers won’t bite. And when it sits on the market too long, it starts to look stale. Eventually, you'll have to lower the price and "chase the market down", which can lead to lower offers and more time on the market.

2. Ignoring Market Conditions

Markets shift. What your home may have been worth six months ago might not be what it's worth today.

It’s not about what you want or need—it’s about what buyers are willing to pay right now. The best pricing strategy is one based on current data, not past expectations. Ignoring this can lead to missed opportunities.

3. Not Considering the Competition

Buyers are comparing your home to others in the same price range—and if your home doesn’t stack up, they'll simply move on.

It’s not just about your list price. It’s about how your home shows compared to others, how it photographs, and what kind of value it offers. If a buyer sees a better deal down the street, guess what—they're buying that one instead.

Pricing in a vacuum doesn’t work. You have to know what’s actively for sale and what recently sold.

4. Overlooking Needed Repairs

You might be ignoring that leaky roof or aging HVAC system, but buyers won’t. If buyers think your home needs $40,000 worth of repairs after closing, they’ll either make a low offer—or no offer at all.

Even worse, some may be turned off before even making an appointment. The truth is, condition affects price just as much as location or square footage.

The Bottom Line

Pricing your home correctly is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the selling process.
To do it right:

• Study the competition

• Know what the market is doing today

• Be honest about your home’s condition

• Work with a professional who can give you the facts, not just what you want to hear

If you're thinking about selling, let's start with a conversation. My team and I can give you a realistic view of your home’s value and create a strategy to help you get the most money in the shortest time.

Contact us today—we’re here to help you get it right from the start.