The biggest regret homeowners have when they sell without an agent is pricing their home incorrectly for today’s market.
Recent data from the National Association of Realtors shows that sellers who went the DIY route say setting the right price was the most challenging part of the entire process.
Top 5 Challenges Sellers Face Without an Agent
- Pricing the home correctly
- Getting the house ready or making repairs
- Selling within their ideal timeline
- Managing legal paperwork and disclosures
- Finding the time to handle every part of the sale
And that’s not surprising. Pricing a home isn’t as simple as pulling a number from an online estimate or matching what a neighbor sold for last year. It requires a real understanding of today’s market, including:
- What buyers are actually willing to pay right now
- How much competition your home is up against
- What comparable homes are truly selling for, not just listed at
- How desirable your neighborhood is
- The condition and presentation of your home
Without that context, it’s easy to miss the mark. And in a market where buyers have more choices and are being more selective, pricing mistakes can quickly work against you.
Overpricing Isn’t a Small Mistake, It Snowballs
Your asking price plays a big role in a buyer’s first impression. When it’s set too high, it can trigger a chain reaction that’s hard to undo.
If buyers feel a home is overpriced, they move on. That leads to fewer showings. Fewer showings mean fewer offers. And fewer offers often force a price reduction just to regain attention.
That pattern has become increasingly common, especially for homes sold without professional guidance.
According to the same NAR report, 59% of homes sold without an agent had to lower their asking price at least once. That’s a clear sign that pricing without expert insight often misses the mark and ends up costing sellers time and momentum.
The Part Sellers Don’t See Coming
The problem is, price cuts don’t always solve the issue. Instead of attracting strong, confident buyers, they often draw bargain hunters. Many buyers see a price drop as a red flag and assume something may be wrong with the home. That perception alone can push them to keep looking.
By the time the house finally sells, sellers often walk away with less than they would have if it had been priced correctly from day one. And the data supports that.
According to NAR, homes sold with an agent typically sell for nearly 8% more than homes sold without one.
That difference isn’t magic. It comes down to expertise. Agents know how to get the details right: the pricing, the preparation, the presentation, and the paperwork.
When all of these elements are handled correctly from the start, you set yourself up to get the most value from your sale.
So while selling without an agent might seem like a way to save money, the reality is that going it alone can often mean selling for less. That fact alone is enough to make many homeowners rethink their approach.
Bottom Line
Today, the greatest risk of selling without an agent isn’t the paperwork or the extra effort, it’s setting the wrong price. And once pricing is off, correcting it can be difficult.
If you’re considering selling and want to know what your home would realistically sell for in today’s market, let’s connect. A quick conversation about pricing now can help you avoid bigger regrets down the line.
