7 Deadly Sins of Overpricing

“We can always go down, but we can’t go up.”
Have you ever heard that from a client? If you have been on many listing appointments, you have probably heard this statement once or twice. When setting the sales price of their home, many sellers are tempted to tack on a few percentage points to “leave room to negotiate”.
Overpricing a home can have many ramifications for a home seller. It can limit the number of potential buyers who can afford your home, reduce showings and create an impression in the marketplace that the homeowners aren’t really serious about selling their home. Serious homeowners who overprice their home often get caught in the trap of price reduction after price reduction trying to catch up to the market.
During the past year, U.S. home sellers slashed more than $24 billion from home listings on Trulia.com. Trulia’s Q1 Home Offer Report indicated that on average, most sellers will reduce their list price after 79 days on the market, choosing to cut their original list price by 8 percent. Following a first reduction, 35 percent of these sellers will make a second.
Most homebuyers look at 10-15 homes before making a buying decision. Because of this, setting a competitive price relative to the competition is an essential component to a successful marketing strategy. Underpricing a home isn’t good either- educating your clients about the importance of properly pricing a home is key to the home sales process.
We put together this handy tip sheet to share with your sellers on the seven deadly sins of overpricing.