Want to know the number one thing homeowners regret when they sell without an agent?
It’s not pricing their home correctly for today’s market.
According to data from the National Association of Realtors, sellers who went it alone overwhelmingly say pricing was the hardest part of the entire process. And that regret often shows up in lost time, lost leverage, and lost money.
Pricing a Home Is Harder Than It Looks
When sellers skip using an agent, they quickly discover that pricing isn’t as simple as pulling a number from an online estimate or copying what a neighbor sold for last year.
The same NAR data shows the top challenges for sellers who didn’t use an agent were:
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Getting the price right
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Preparing or fixing up the home
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Selling within their desired timeframe
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Handling legal documents
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Finding time to manage the entire sale
Why pricing tops the list makes perfect sense. Getting it right requires a deep understanding of:
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What buyers are actually willing to pay right now
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How much competition you’re facing
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What similar homes are truly selling for — not just listed at
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How desirable your location is
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Your home’s condition and presentation
Without that context, it’s easy to overshoot — especially in a market where buyers are more selective.
Overpricing Isn’t a Small Mistake — It Snowballs
Your list price shapes a buyer’s first impression. When it’s too high, a chain reaction begins.
Buyers scroll past.
Showings slow down.
Offers never come.
And when that happens, sellers often resort to price cuts to regain attention.
That’s not rare. NAR data shows 59% of homes sold without an agent had to reduce their price at least once.
The problem? Once a home sits too long or shows price drops, buyers start asking why. And that leads to the next issue many sellers don’t see coming.
The Hidden Cost Sellers Don’t Expect
Price cuts don’t always fix the problem. Instead of attracting strong buyers, they often draw bargain hunters — buyers who assume something must be wrong with the home.
By the time the property finally sells, the seller may net less than they would have if it had been priced correctly from the start.
Again, the data backs this up. Homes sold with an agent typically sell for nearly 8% more than homes sold without one.
That difference isn’t about magic. It comes down to expertise — pricing, preparation, presentation, negotiation, and paperwork all done right from day one.
Why This Changes the “Save the Commission” Math
Many homeowners assume selling without an agent saves money. But when pricing goes wrong, the opposite often happens.
Between missed buyer interest, longer time on market, price reductions, and weaker negotiations, selling solo can quietly cost far more than expected.
And once pricing momentum is lost, it’s hard to recover.
Bottom Line
The biggest risk of selling without an agent today isn’t the paperwork or the inconvenience.
It’s pricing your home incorrectly — and paying for it later.
If you’re thinking about selling and want a realistic picture of what your home could sell for right now, a quick pricing conversation can make all the difference.
✨ Ready to avoid costly mistakes and price with confidence?
👉 Connect with a trusted local expert at https://aceestate.com/ and get clarity before regrets set in.
