When it comes to selling your home, many sellers believe that time is their best ally. “If I just wait long enough, the right buyer will come along.” But the truth is, buyers aren’t waiting around. Buyers notice price first—make yours the one they can’t ignore. If your home isn’t priced right, they’ll scroll past it without a second thought.
That’s why hope doesn’t sell houses. Pricing does.
Why Time Isn’t on Your Side
In today’s market, buyers are sharper than ever. They know what homes are worth, they track the data, and they’re quick to move on if something feels overpriced. Sellers who try to push the envelope—hoping to get more than their neighbors did last year—often find themselves stuck with a stale listing.
Here’s the reality:
- Buyers are far more price-sensitive than they used to be.
- Sellers who aim too high risk weeks (or months) of little to no activity.
- Even small overpricing makes buyers scroll past your home in favor of something that feels like a better value.
Many homeowners understand that prices can’t keep climbing at the breakneck pace of the last few years, but list prices aren’t really dropping either. Instead, they’re hovering—“holding out” in hopes of squeezing out a few extra dollars. That’s exactly where the problem lies.
Signs Your Price May Be Too High
You may already be feeling this yourself. If your home is listed and you’re not seeing results, watch for these common red flags noted by Bankrate:
- You’re not getting many showings
- You haven’t gotten any offers (or you’ve only gotten lowball offers)
- Buyers that do come to see your house leave overly negative feedback
- Your house has been sitting on the market longer than the average for your area
If any of these sound familiar, know that hope won’t fix it. But adjusting your price will.
So, What’s the Solution?
Work with your Top Shelf Group agent to make sure your house is positioned for today’s market. Depending on what’s happening in your local area, a few weeks without traction can raise questions for buyers about whether your price is realistic. And don’t worry – it doesn’t have to be a big drop. Even a small adjustment can be enough to bring the right buyers through the door.
And if you’re worried you won’t get the high-ticket sale price you thought you would be able to land, keep in mind that your equity has probably grown quite a bit. Chances are, you’re still ahead of the game simply because you invested in a home over the last 5, 10, or more years. You’re still winning when you sell today.
The Power of Proper Pricing
If you want to sell today, you have to be aligned with today’s market—not last year’s, not the pandemic boom years. Buyers now have more options, and they don’t feel the same urgency to make offers on homes that are even slightly overpriced.
On the flip side, a home priced correctly:
- Grabs buyer attention quickly.
- Creates competition that drives stronger offers.
- Sells faster and often for more than expected.
The Bottom Line
Holding out might feel safe, but in real estate, it’s pricing that moves homes. Buyers today are selective, informed, and unwilling to overpay. If your house isn’t priced right, they’ll simply move on to the next option.
Talk to our team about what buyers are willing to pay right now to make sure your home stands out for all the right reasons.
So if you’re serious about selling, don’t count on time to “fix” your listing. Price it right from the start, and the right buyer will find you. We’d be happy to provide you with a Free Market Evaluation!