Before You List Your Home, Read This First...

The 5 Mistakes That Cost Homeowners Thousands When Selling — And How to Avoid Every One

If you’re thinking about selling your home, here’s the truth most agents won’t say out loud:
Homeowners don’t lose money because of the market. They lose money because of avoidable mistakes.

The good news? Every single one of these mistakes is easy to prevent with the right plan.

Let’s get into the five big ones that cost sellers the most — and how to avoid them.

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1. Pricing Based on Emotion Instead of the Market

Here’s the reality:
The market decides the value — not Zillow, not your neighbor, not even your agent.

Overpricing feels safe… but it actually:
    •    Pushes serious buyers away
    •    Causes your home to sit on the market
    •    Leads to low-ball offers
    •    Forces price cuts that weaken your negotiating power

The solution:
Use a data-driven pricing strategy based on current active, pending, and sold homes in your area. Proper pricing creates momentum, and momentum turns into money.

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2. Delaying Small Fixes That Lead to Big Buyer Credits

Buyers don’t care about what’s perfect.
They notice what’s broken — and they mentally multiply the cost.

A $200 handyman repair can easily turn into a $2,000 buyer credit request.

Fix before you list.
Touch-up paint. Door handles. Trim. Caulking. Light fixtures.
Small repairs protect your equity and make your home feel turn-key.

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3. Using Photos That Don’t Stop Buyers Mid-Scroll

Your online photos are your first showing.

Buyers scroll fast. You have about one second to grab attention.

When photos are:
    •    Dark
    •    Crooked
    •    Cluttered
    •    Unstaged

…buyers move on without ever scheduling a showing.

Professional photos + light staging = more clicks + more showings + more offers.
It’s not optional in today’s market. It’s strategy.

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4. Underestimating the Power of the First 72 Hours (This ones HUGE)

The first three days of your listing determine almost everything.

During this window:
    •    The home is seen by the most buyers
    •    Interest is at its peak
    •    You have the most leverage
    •    Your price feels the “freshest”

The biggest mistake?
Not being fully ready before day one.

That means photos, staging, cleaning, repairs, marketing — done.
The faster you build momentum, the higher your final sales price.

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5. Choosing an Agent Based on Price Instead of Skill

This is the one that quietly drains the most equity.

Two agents can list the exact same house — and one can get you $10k–$30k more simply because of:
    •    Better negotiation
    •    Better marketing
    •    Better communication
    •    Better pricing strategy
    •    Better preparation

Your equity isn’t protected by the cheapest option.
It’s protected by the most skilled option.

And yes — you can absolutely ask agents:
“How will you negotiate on my behalf?”
“What’s your plan for maximizing demand in the first 72 hours?”
“What do you do differently from the average agent?”

The right agent should have clear, confident answers.

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Bottom Line

Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make.

Avoiding these five mistakes ensures you:
✔ Protect your equity
✔ Attract more qualified buyers
✔ Create stronger offers
✔ Sell faster and for more money

If you’d like a free, no-pressure evaluation of what your home could realistically sell for in today’s market, I can prepare a full CMA and strategy breakdown customized to your property.

Just tell me:
“Run my home value.”