Why Your Gut Feeling Is Costing You $15,000 When Selling Your Home
That little voice telling you what your home is worth just cost another seller $15,000 last month. Here's why you should ignore it completely.
Look, I get it. Your gut helps you pick the right Netflix show and avoid sketchy gas station sushi. But when it comes to pricing your home? It's about as reliable as my teenage son's promise to clean his room.
Your "gut" is really just your emotions wearing a fake mustache. And when you're selling your home (the place where your kids took their first steps, where you stress-ate ice cream during quarantine), those emotions are running the show.
You've got memories mixed with sweat equity, comparisons to what your neighbor bragged about getting in 2021, and expectations that would make a lottery winner blush.
That's not market analysis. That's a recipe for disaster.
What actually works?
Stop assuming and start looking. The CIA doesn't let their agents trust gut feelings when lives are on the line. Why? Because feelings lie. They take shortcuts. They see what they want to see.
Instead, they dig into data. They question everything. They look for proof that contradicts their assumptions.
Your home sale deserves the same treatment.
In Fort Walton Beach, I've watched homes sell in three days and others sit empty for six months. The difference? One seller looked at the market. The other looked at their wishlist.
You need to know what's really happening:
What homes are buyers actually touring (not what sold on your street last year)
What's sitting under contract right now and how long it took
Which price ranges are dead zones and which ones start bidding wars
This isn't rocket science. It's just paying attention to what buyers actually do instead of what you hope they'll do.
Timing isn't everything, but it's close
Ever notice how you make terrible decisions when you're stressed? Same thing happens with pricing. You get an unsolicited offer that feels insulting, so you price high out of spite. Or you see a "hot market" story on Facebook and think you can ask for the moon.
Don't price your home when you're emotional. It's like grocery shopping when you're hungry. You'll make choices you'll regret.
Here's what happened to my stubborn seller
I had this guy in Niceville. Great house, amazing view. He was convinced it was worth $750,000 because "look at that water view!" Meanwhile, the house down the street with a better kitchen and newer roof sold for $685,000 after sitting for over three months.
But he wouldn't budge. His gut said $750K.
Three months later, after two price drops and a lot of frustration, we finally got it sold for $675,000. He lost $15,000 in negotiating power because buyers figured out he was desperate. Plus another $2,400 in mortgage payments, insurance, and utilities while it sat empty.
All because he trusted his feelings instead of the market.
We do things differently
At Uber Realty, we don't price homes based on hopes and dreams. We look at what buyers are actually doing. We study the competition. We figure out what makes buyers say "yes" instead of "maybe."
Because here's the thing. Your opinion of your home's value doesn't matter. Neither does mine. The market decides. Our job is to read the room and price accordingly.
Ready to skip the guesswork and get your home sold? Let's dig into what's really happening in your neighborhood. Contact us
FAQs:
Q: Why shouldn't I trust my instincts when pricing my home? A: Your instincts are loaded with emotion and ignore what's actually happening in the Fort Walton Beach market. Smart pricing means looking at what buyers are doing, not what you're feeling.
Q: What happens when I overprice my home? A: Your home sits longer, you end up cutting the price anyway, and you lose negotiating power. Around here, overpriced homes sit for 89 days on average while properly priced ones sell in 31 days.
Q: How do I figure out the right price for my Niceville or Shalimar home? A: Look at what's selling now, what's sitting, and what buyers are actually considering. We help you cut through the noise and see what's really happening in your specific area.
Q: What makes Fort Walton Beach pricing different? A: Military families moving in and out, seasonal buyers, and waterfront properties create unique market conditions. You need someone who understands these local factors.
Q: How long do overpriced homes sit in Okaloosa County? A: Way too long. Overpriced homes average 89 days on market while properly priced ones sell in 31 days. That's two extra months of mortgage payments for nothing.
Ready to skip the guesswork and get your home sold? Let's dig into what's really happening in your neighborhood. Contact us
