If you’re thinking about selling your home on your own, there’s one regret we hear again and again from homeowners who’ve already gone that route:

They wish they’d priced their home correctly from the start.

And they’re not alone. According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), pricing the home was the single hardest part for sellers who chose to sell without an agent.

Top 5 Challenges for Sellers Who Didn’t Use an Agent:

1. Getting the price right

2. Preparing or fixing up the house

3. Selling within their desired timeframe

4. Handling all the legal documents

5. Finding time to manage every part of the sale

That list makes sense—especially here in Columbia, SC, where pricing can change dramatically from one neighborhood to the next. A home in Shandon doesn’t behave the same way as one in Lake Carolina or Forest Acres. Even within the same ZIP code, buyer demand, school zones, and competition can vary.

Why Pricing Isn’t as Simple as It Looks

Pricing a home isn’t about pulling a number from an online estimate or using what your neighbor sold for last year. It takes real, current insight into:

• What buyers in today’s Columbia market are actually willing to pay

• How much competition you have right now

• What similar homes nearby are really selling for (not just listed for)

• How desirable your specific neighborhood is

• The condition and updates of your home

Without that context, it’s easy to overshoot—especially in a market where buyers are more selective than they were a couple of years ago. And when a home is overpriced, the market usually pushes back.

Overpricing Isn’t a Small Mistake—It Snowballs

Your list price shapes a buyer’s first impression. When it’s too high, here’s what typically happens:

Buyers skip your home ➝ showings slow down ➝ offers don’t come ➝ price reductions follow.

We’re seeing this play out frequently around the Midlands, particularly with homes that start too high. And the data supports it. According to NAR, 59% of homes sold without an agent had to reduce their price at least once.

The Part Most Sellers Don’t See Coming

Here’s the tough part: price cuts don’t always fix the problem.

Instead of attracting strong buyers, multiple price drops can draw bargain hunters—or worse, cause buyers to assume something is wrong with the house. That hesitation can cost you both time and money.

By the time the home finally sells, many owners end up netting less than they would have if the price had been right from day one.

In fact, NAR reports that homes sold with an agent sell for nearly 8% more than homes sold without one.

That’s not because agents magically add value—it’s because experience matters. Knowing how to price, prepare, market, negotiate, and navigate the paperwork correctly from the start makes a real financial difference.

What Columbia Home Sellers Need to Know

Selling on your own might sound like a way to save money, but in reality, pricing missteps can cost you far more. In our Columbia-area market, the right price from day one sets the tone for everything that follows.

If you’re even considering selling, having a realistic, local pricing strategy from the start can make all the difference in how quickly—and how profitably—you sell.