This one lands in the Top 5 for a reason—it’s one of the biggest ways sellers shoot themselves in the foot.

We get it—your home is special. You’ve lived in it, made memories, maybe raised a family. You love the paint color in the kitchen, the open layout you designed, the built-in shelves you added yourself. But here’s the truth: the things you love most might not matter to buyers at all.

That’s where most sellers go wrong—they let emotion set the price instead of data.

Buyers don’t care how much you spent redoing the patio if it doesn’t match what they’re looking for. They don’t care that your neighbor “got more” last year if the market’s changed. What they do care about is value—and they’re comparing your home against every other one in their price range.

That means if you’re priced too high, buyers won’t even bother to come see it. Worse, they’ll compare your home to others that are priced better and walk away thinking yours is overpriced and underwhelming. That’s how a home goes stale on the market—and that’s when lowball offers start coming in (if any offers come at all).

You don’t need every buyer—you need the right one. The one who connects emotionally and sees value. That buyer could show up next week—or in 60 days. But they won’t show up at all if the price is scaring them off.

House Karma Tip:

Price it right from the beginning. Study the recent sales in your area—look at the photos, condition, square footage, upgrades. Be brutally honest in comparing your home. Use logic, not love. And always leave a little room to negotiate—buyers want to feel like they “won” something too.

Overpricing is emotional. Selling smart is strategic.