Want Top Dollar for Your Home? Don’t Wing It.
Selling your home isn’t a DIY project. It’s not the time for “good enough.” In real estate, perception is reality, and the reality is this: homes that wow buyers from the start sell faster and for more money. Period.
And yet, sellers still make the same mistakes—bad photos, lazy pricing, cluttered spaces that scream “someone still lives here.” You wouldn’t show up to a job interview in sweatpants. Why would you present your most valuable asset any less than perfectly?
First Impressions Aren’t Just Important—They’re Everything.
Today’s buyers scroll through listings like they’re swiping on a dating app. You have about three seconds to capture their attention. If your home doesn’t stop them mid-scroll, you’re already out of the running.
Bad photos? You just lost 80% of buyers.
Overpriced? Your listing will sit like last week’s leftovers.
Cluttered rooms? Buyers can’t picture themselves living there.
And once your home starts collecting dust on the market, the death spiral begins—price cuts, lowball offers, and buyers wondering, What’s wrong with it?
Step 1: Staging – Make Buyers Fall in Love
Buyers don’t buy homes. They buy how a home makes them feel. And what they don’t feel is your family photos, cluttered counters, or that worn-out couch you’ve had since the Bush administration.
ROI? Staged homes sell for up to 20% more. Ignore this at your own expense.
Step 2: Pricing – The Market Doesn’t Care About Your Feelings
Newsflash: What you think your home is worth is irrelevant. The market sets the price. And if you ignore that reality, buyers will ignore your home.
Overpricing is the biggest mistake sellers make. It’s like putting a $100 price tag on a Starbucks coffee—you’ll just push buyers to the next option.
The winning strategy?
Step 3: Marketing – Don’t Be a Secret Listing
You’re not just selling a home—you’re selling a lifestyle. And you don’t market a high-value asset with an iPhone camera and a lawn sign.
Here’s how real marketing works:
Professional photography & video – Listings with high-quality visuals get 118% more views.
Final Thought: Sell Smart, Sell Fast, Sell High
The sellers who win aren’t the ones who “test the market” or “wait for the perfect buyer.” They’re the ones who execute. They prepare, price right, and market aggressively.
You get one shot at a first impression. Make it count.
Thinking about selling? Let’s talk. I’ve sold over 3,000 homes in Central Ohio. Yours could be next.
For information on common seller mistakes, go here.
For tips on increasing your home’s value, go here.
Kyle Alfriend has been investing in real estate for over 35 years, assisting over 3,000 clients in buying, selling, or investing in real estate. For more tips on buying, selling, or investing, or for a personal consultation, contact Kyle Alfriend, (614) 395-1776, or info@AlfriendGroup.com. Or go to our website, AlfriendGroup.com
About the Author: Kyle Alfriend is a top-producing realtor in central Ohio with over four decades of experience, representing home buyers, sellers, and investors. He’s been nationally recognized for his prospecting and negotiating strategies and has been featured on CNN, FOX News, Fortune, and Forbes. Kyle’s mission is to help families achieve their real estate dreams while making a lasting impact in the community through charitable initiatives and fundraising efforts.