Selling a home can feel overwhelming, especially when you're bombarded with advice from well-meaning friends, family, and that one neighbor who sold their house in 2019. The problem? A lot of that advice is based on outdated information or straight-up myths that could cost you thousands of dollars.
"We see it all the time—sellers who've done their homework on Google but end up leaving serious money on the table because they're following advice that just doesn't hold up in today's market," says Mike Oddo, CEO of HouseJet. "These myths are expensive. They drag out the selling process, create unnecessary stress, and often result in lower sale prices than what the home could have commanded with the right strategy."
Let's dig into the first five myths that trip up sellers and look at what actually works.
Myth #1: You Should Wait for a Better Offer
Your agent calls with exciting news—you've got an offer after just three days on the market, and it's above asking price. Your first thought? "Let's see what else comes in."
Here's the thing: that first offer is usually your strongest. Think about it from the buyer's perspective. They've been searching, maybe for months. They saw your listing, fell in love, and jumped immediately because they didn't want to lose it. That kind of urgency translates into motivated buyers who are putting their best foot forward.
When you decline that first offer hoping for something better, you're gambling. Your listing had maximum visibility in that first week. After that, interest starts to taper off. Other buyers start wondering why the house is still available. Is something wrong with it? Is the seller difficult to work with?
Meanwhile, you're dealing with constant showings, continuing to pay HOA dues, worrying about repairs, and juggling mortgage payments. That stress adds up fast. Remember, every offer is a starting point for negotiation. A good agent can work with that first offer to get you where you need to be.
Myth #2: Price High and Leave Room to Negotiate
This one sounds logical on the surface. Price your home higher than you want, and you'll have room to come down during negotiations, right? Wrong.
The market doesn't work that way anymore. An overpriced listing gets stale quickly. During the 2021 housing boom, homes that sat on the market for more than a week already had buyers asking questions. And when you eventually drop the price? Now you're explaining to other agents why the cut happened, which just raises more red flags.
Here's what actually happens: pricing a home accurately from the start generates more interest, more showings, and often multiple offers. That's when you get your best price—when buyers are competing for your home, not when you're dropping the price hoping someone will finally bite.
A skilled agent knows how to price your home right. They'll look at comparable sales, current market conditions, and the unique features of your property. There's real strategy involved here, and it's worth listening to.
Myth #3: The House Will Sell Itself
Sure, maybe fifteen years ago you could slap a "For Sale" sign in the yard, snap a few photos with your phone, and call it a day. Those days are gone.
Today's buyers start their search online, and they're picky. They're scrolling through dozens of listings, and yours needs to stand out. The order of your photos matters. The quality of those photos matters. Your listing description matters. How and where your listing gets syndicated matters.
Think about how car dealerships prep vehicles for the lot. From the outside, it looks simple—just a car with a price sticker. But that car has been detailed, professionally photographed, strategically placed, and marketed across multiple platforms. Selling your home works the same way.
When sellers ask "What are you doing to sell my home?"—and they will ask—a good agent has a comprehensive answer. They have a marketing plan that covers professional photography, staging advice, online syndication, social media promotion, and targeted outreach to other agents. It's a lot more than a sign and an MLS listing.
Myth #4: Keep Your Personal Style—Buyers Will See Past It
You love your home. You've made it yours with family photos, your kids' artwork on the fridge, your collection of vintage vinyl records displayed proudly. That's wonderful—for you.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: buyers can get hung up on the smallest details. The type of books on your shelf. The color of your kitchen cabinets. Those things that feel like minor cosmetic issues to you can become major mental hurdles for buyers trying to envision their life in the space.
Plus, there are practical concerns. Having personal items visible during showings isn't just about aesthetics—it's about privacy and safety. You don't want strangers knowing details about your family, even if most people touring your home are perfectly reasonable.
The goal is to make your home feel like a blank canvas. Remove the clutter, pack away personal photos, and create a space where buyers can imagine their own furniture, their own family photos, their own life. It's not about erasing your personality—it's about making room for theirs.
Myth #5: Everything Needs to Look Like an HGTV Show
Open floor plans, shiplap everywhere, farmhouse sinks—HGTV has convinced a lot of sellers that their home needs a trendy makeover before it can sell. Here's the reality: not every buyer wants the same thing, and trends change quickly.
That open floor plan everyone wanted five years ago? Now buyers are realizing it means no privacy and noise carrying through the entire house. Those generic gray walls? Some buyers find them boring and soulless.
Original features have value. Character has value. You don't need to gut your home and start over. Sometimes the best approach is making sure everything is clean, functional, and well-maintained—then letting buyers see the potential to make it their own.
Going through a major renovation before selling is stressful and expensive, and you might not recoup those costs. Focus on what matters: addressing obvious repairs, making sure the home shows well, and pricing it right.
HouseJet's Take: The best way to avoid these costly myths? Work with an agent who knows your local market inside and out. At HouseJet, our agents have the experience and data to guide you through the selling process with confidence. We'll help you price your home accurately, market it effectively, and negotiate the best possible terms. That first-time sellers and seasoned homeowners alike benefit from having an experienced professional in their corner—someone who can separate the myths from the strategies that actually work.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll tackle five more myths that could be standing between you and a successful home sale.
