What If I Price It Wrong?

Why This Question Matters

Pricing feels like the power move when you list your home but it’s where most sellers lose the game before it even starts.

Too high and you scare off real buyers.

Too low and you might leave money on the table.

And the worst part? You usually don’t know you got it wrong until it’s already costing you.

This is where strategy beats guesswork.

Let’s Break it Down

In our experience working with sellers over the last 20 years, most pricing mistakes fall into one of three traps:

1. “Let’s test the market” pricing
   Listing above market to “see what happens” almost always backfires. You miss your best window, those first 7–10 days, and quickly become stale inventory. Serious buyers move on, and lowballers start circling.

2. “Zillow says my house is worth…”
   Automated estimates don’t see your kitchen, your roof, your dated floors, or your power lines out back. Pricing off algorithms instead of actual comps is a fast track to regret.

3. “We’ll just lower it later” thinking
   Price drops don’t reset buyer perception. If you drop after 30 days, buyers assume you’re desperate or that something’s wrong with the home. You lose leverage, even if the new price is right.

So What If You Price Too High?

• You get fewer showings.

• You miss motivated buyers early.

• You wind up chasing the market down and probably taking less than you would’ve if you priced right up front.

What If You Price Too Low?

• If it’s accidental: you might undersell in a rising price segment (like SFHs under $500K right now).

• If it’s intentional: pricing low can be a smart play to create urgency and spark multiple offers if you’ve prepped the home properly and have an agent who knows how to manage the response.

What I’d Tell a Friend

Don’t think of price as just a number. Think of it as an invitation.

You’re inviting the right buyer into the conversation. A strong, smart price says:

“Hey, this home is worth your time. Come see it.”

A price that’s too high? That’s a closed door.

Too low with no strategy? That’s a missed opportunity.

If you want to sell fast and strong, you need:

✅ Real-time comps
✅ A clear look at your competition
✅ A price that creates momentum, not silence

Bottom line: You’re not trying to trick the market. You’re trying to meet it where it is. Price with purpose, and you’ll attract the right buyers at the right time.