The #1 Regret Home Sellers Have When They Don’t Use a Real Estate Agent

Selling your home without a real estate agent might sound like a smart way to save money. But according to recent data, most homeowners who go that route end up with the same regret:

They didn’t price their home correctly.

In fact, pricing is consistently ranked as the hardest part of selling without an agent, and it’s the mistake that costs sellers the most money in the long run.

Why Pricing a Home Is So Much Harder Than It Looks

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sellers who choose not to use an agent say these are the most difficult parts of the process:

Top 5 Challenges for Sellers Without an Agent:

Getting the price right
Preparing or fixing up the home
Selling within their desired timeframe
Handling legal paperwork and disclosures
Finding time to manage every part of the sale

Pricing tops the list for a reason.

Many sellers rely on:

Online home value estimates
What a neighbor’s home sold for last year
A number that “feels right”

But none of those reflect what truly matters most:

What Actually Determines Your Home’s Value Today

What buyers are willing to pay right now
Current inventory and competition in your area
Recent comparable sales (not asking prices)
Buyer demand in your specific neighborhood
Your home’s condition, updates, and layout

Without full market context, it’s easy to miss the mark—especially in today’s more selective buyer environment.

Why Overpricing Creates a Chain Reaction

Pricing isn’t just a number. It’s a buyer’s first impression.

When a home is overpriced:

Buyers skip it altogether
Showings slow down
Offers don’t come in
Sellers feel forced to reduce the price

And once that happens, momentum is hard to regain.

According to NAR data, 59% of homes sold without an agent required at least one price reduction—a clear sign the original price didn’t align with buyer expectations.

The Hidden Problem With Price Reductions

Many sellers assume a price cut will solve everything. But that’s not always the case.

Price reductions can:

Attract bargain hunters instead of strong buyers
Signal that something may be “wrong” with the home
Weaken your negotiating position

By the time the home finally sells, sellers often net less than they would have if it were priced correctly from the start.

Why Homes Sold With Agents Net More

NAR data shows that homes sold with an agent typically sell for nearly 8% more than those sold without one.

That’s not because agents magically inflate prices. It’s because they:

Understand hyper-local market conditions
Price strategically to create demand and urgency
Position the home properly from day one
Manage prep, presentation, and paperwork efficiently

When pricing, marketing, and timing align, sellers are set up to maximize their bottom line.

Selling Without an Agent Doesn’t Always Save You Money

Many homeowners choose to sell on their own to avoid paying a commission. But the data shows that decision can cost more than it saves.

When pricing goes wrong:

Days on market increase
Price cuts become necessary
Buyer confidence drops
Final sale prices suffer

And once that happens, it’s difficult to fully recover.

Bottom Line

The biggest risk of selling without an agent isn’t the paperwork or the time commitment—it’s pricing your home incorrectly.

If you’re thinking about selling, the smartest first step isn’t guessing your home’s value. It’s understanding what buyers would realistically pay in today’s market.

A quick conversation with a knowledgeable local agent can help you avoid costly mistakes—and the regret many sellers wish they could undo later.