Pricing your home: why the first two weeks matter most
“I want top dollar for my house but I don't want it to sit.”
By Jose Eduardo Hernandez · REALTOR®, KW Commercial · Nov 2026
The most interested buyers are the ones who've been waiting for a home like yours. They see it the day it lists. If the price is right, that's when you get your best offers.
If it's priced too high, those buyers pass. The listing ages. After a few weeks, new buyers start asking what's wrong with it. A price cut then often lands you below where you'd have sold at the right price on day one.
How to set the price:
- Start from recent sold comps, not what neighbors are asking.
- Adjust honestly for condition and updates.
- Consider pricing just under a common search cutoff, like $400,000 instead of $405,000, so you show up in more searches.
Preparing well matters as much as the number: clean, decluttered, good photos and easy showings. Those first two weeks are your best shot, so go in ready.
Thinking of selling?
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General information for Illinois owners, buyers and sellers, not legal, tax or lending advice. Every property and lease is different; talk with an attorney, accountant or lender about your situation.