CHAPTER 21 Chuck’s $36K Oops (And How to Avoid It Without Facepalming Int acepalming Into Your Mortgage) Let’s take a moment of silence for Chuck. Chuck was a good guy. He cleaned his gutters, paid his taxes, and lovingly mowed his lawn in symmetrical stripes. So when an agent called and said, “I’ve got buyers offering $285,000 and they’re pre-approved,” Chuck said, “Heck yes!” and signed on the dotted line. Fast forward a few weeks, and Chuck’s neighbor—whose house was slightly smaller, and whose idea of yard maintenance involved occasional weed whacking—sells for $321,000. $321,000. Chuck, meet Regret. Regret, Chuck. Why did Chuck lose out on $36,000? Because Chuck had no idea what his house was really worth. No appraisal. No second opinion. No pricing strategy. Just a fast sale and a slow realization that he got financially karate-chopped. Avoid Chuck’s Fate: Know Your Home’s Worth Before You Sell You can’t just guess your home’s value based on neighbor gossip, fond memories, or Zillow voodoo. Here’s how to price smartly without spiraling into pricing purgatory. Danger Zone #1: Pricing Too Low Yes, a low price might spark a bidding war—but only if the stars align and your home is basically the Beyoncé of real estate. Most of the time? Buyers assume something’s wrong and avoid your listing like it’s got emotional baggage. Your home sits. And sits. And sits. Meanwhile, your dreams of buying a beach condo are washed away in the tide of underpricing.
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