If you ask homeowners who tried selling without an agent what they regret most, the answer is almost always the same: they didn’t price their home correctly for their market.
According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sellers who chose to sell without an agent said pricing their home was the hardest part of the entire process.
And that makes sense. Pricing a home isn’t as simple as pulling a number from an online estimate or copying what a neighbor sold for last year. The real estate market is constantly shifting, and what worked even a few months ago may no longer apply.
The Biggest Challenges of Selling Without an Agent
Homeowners who sold without professional representation reported struggling most with:
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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 time frame
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Handling contracts and legal paperwork
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Finding the time to manage every part of the sale
Pricing sits at the top of the list for a reason. It impacts everything that happens next.
Why Pricing Is Harder Than It Looks
To price a home correctly, you need more than an online estimate or a gut feeling. Accurate pricing requires real insight into:
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What buyers are actually willing to pay right now
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How much competition exists in your specific neighborhood
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What similar homes nearby are truly selling for, not just listed at
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How location, condition, and layout affect demand
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How current market conditions influence buyer behavior
Without that context, it’s easy to overshoot the mark. And in today’s market, where buyers have more options and are more selective, that mistake can quickly work against you.
Overpricing Isn’t a Small Mistake. It Snowballs.
Your asking price shapes a buyer’s first impression. When it’s too high, a chain reaction begins.
Buyers scroll past your home. Showings slow down. Interest fades. And before long, sellers are forced to reduce the price just to regain attention.
This isn’t hypothetical. According to NAR data, 59% of homes sold without an agent had to reduce their asking price at least once, and many required multiple price cuts.
Unfortunately, price reductions don’t always solve the problem.
The Part Many Sellers Don’t Expect
Multiple price drops can actually change how buyers perceive a home. Instead of attracting strong, confident buyers, repeated reductions can raise red flags and draw bargain hunters who assume something must be wrong.
By the time the home finally sells, many sellers walk away with less than they would have if the home had been priced correctly from the start.
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 luck or pressure tactics. It comes down to strategy.
Data from NAR
Why Selling Without an Agent Often Costs Sellers More
Data shows that working with an agent matters. But working with the right agent matters even more.
Between Google and Zillow, The Nickley Group has earned over 4,000 five-star reviews, and just three weeks into the new year, clients are already adding to that total. That level of feedback doesn’t happen by accident.
From the moment agents join our team, they are trained to handle everything that can come up during a transaction. Pricing strategy, market shifts, negotiations, inspections, appraisals, timelines, and unexpected hurdles are all part of the process, and preparation makes all the difference.
The best proof of that is what our clients say.
“I truly don’t know if we would’ve made it to closing without Adam’s assistance and referrals. He went above and beyond what anyone could expect from a Realtor. If I could give Adam more than five stars, out of five, I would.”
– Tampa client, working with Adam Booker
“We were first-time homebuyers, so everything was new to us. Maya educated us through the entire process, answered every question, and made us feel confident every step of the way. The support from the team made all the difference.”
– Orlando buyers, working with Maya Gorney
“Cristy’s honesty, attention to detail, and willingness to go above and beyond stood out from day one. She didn’t just help us buy a house. She made sure we understood every decision along the way.”
– Orlando first-time buyers, working with Cristy Brumley
What This Means for Sellers
Correct pricing isn’t just about numbers. It’s about understanding buyer behavior, market timing, and how to position a home so it attracts strong interest from day one.
When pricing, preparation, and presentation are aligned from the start, sellers are far more likely to:
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Avoid multiple price reductions
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Attract serious, well-qualified buyers
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Sell within their desired timeframe
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Walk away with stronger results
Bottom Line
Today, the biggest risk of selling without an agent isn’t paperwork or logistics. It’s pricing.
And once pricing goes wrong, it’s hard to fully recover.
If you’re thinking about selling and want a realistic idea of what your home could sell for in today’s Central Florida market, a quick pricing conversation can help you avoid costly missteps and unnecessary regrets.
Even if you’re just exploring your options, understanding the numbers upfront puts you in control.