Why Overpricing Your House Is Like Getting Caught in the Cookie Jar
TL;DR
Trying to price your home above market value is like sneaking an extra cookie when mom isn’t looking. It feels clever—until you get caught. Homes that are overpriced sit too long, lose momentum, and sell for less. Fair pricing creates urgency, competition, and better offers.
Ask Nicely, Get What You Want. Be Greedy, Get Slapped.
Remember being a kid, trying to sneak an extra cookie from the jar? You’d reach in, thinking you were slick—until you heard:
"What do you think you're doing?"
Your hand got slapped. You walked away empty-handed.
And here’s the truth: the real estate market works the exact same way.
The Market Has Eyes in the Back of Its Head
Buyers aren’t dumb. When a house is overpriced, it triggers suspicion.
It’s the same instinct your mom had when she knew something was up—before she even turned around.
The listing just sits there, week after week, stale and ignored.
Everyone notices. And the longer it lingers, the more damage it does.
Lisa’s Lesson: The Market Slapped First
Lisa’s home should have been listed at $350,000. She shot for $390,000.
"Someone will pay it," she thought.
Here’s what happened:
Week 1: Crickets. Curious looks, no offers.
Week 4: Other homes sold. Hers aged like week-old cookies.
Week 8: Lowballers arrived, circling like sharks.
Final sale price: $315,000.
Her hand? Slapped.
Her equity? Gone.
All because she didn’t “ask nicely.”
Tom’s Tale: The Cookie Jar Breaks
Tom listed at $475,000. Market value? $400,000.
Three months later, after endless showings and no bites, buyers assumed he was desperate.
His final offer? $365,000.
He lost $35,000 trying to “leave room to negotiate.”
That’s not negotiation. That’s getting caught with both hands in the jar.
Why Pricing Fairly Works (Almost Every Time)
Sarah’s neighbor listed at $395,000—just under market value.
They got three offers in 10 days and sold for $402,000 in a bidding war.
Why? Because they showed respect for the market. And the market rewarded them.
Meanwhile, Sarah was stuck explaining to friends why her overpriced home wasn’t moving.
Awkward.
The Psychology Behind the Slap
Behavioral economists have studied this:
Loss Aversion: Buyers assume something must be wrong if it’s been sitting.
Social Proof: No buzz? No urgency.
Negotiation Triggers: They smell blood and offer low.
It's the same instincts that told your parents you were up to something.
Markets sniff out greed the same way.
The Fair Price Formula
Here’s how to “ask nicely” and still win:
Research comparable sales (sold, not just listed)
Price just under market value to generate demand
Let competition do the heavy lifting
You’re not leaving money on the table.
You’re building a bidding war.
The Cookie Jar Rule (Applied to Real Estate)
Every parent knows:
The kid who asks politely gets a cookie.
The one who grabs too much gets nothing.
Same goes for home sellers.
Respect the market, and it will respect you back.
Try to outsmart it, and get ready to feel the sting.
Don't Be the Greedy Kid
Before you list, ask yourself:
Are you the kid who politely asks for one cookie… or the one trying to sneak the whole jar?
Because buyers are watching.
And the market doesn’t forget.
Final Word: The Market Always Wins
After two decades in real estate, I’ve seen this play out hundreds of times.
The ending doesn’t change:
Fair pricing leads to faster, stronger offers.
Greedy pricing leads to price cuts, long days on market, and weaker terms.
Want to avoid the slap and sell smarter?
Let’s talk about what “asking nicely” looks like in today’s market.
Because unlike the cookie jar, you only get one shot at that first impression.
Learn more about our Done With You selling approach
