🦗 What Really Happens When You Overprice Your Home?

Here’s the blunt truth: nothing happens. Well — crickets, mostly.

As someone who lives, breathes, and sells homes in Longview, Kalama, and across SW Washington, I’ve seen it play out too many times. A seller says, “Let’s start high and see what happens,” with the hope of lowering the price later. But what actually happens is this: buyers scroll past your listing, showings dry up, and your home sits on the market—getting stale, week by week. Your window of opportunity? Gone.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, homes receive more than 70% of their showing activity in the first 14 days on the market. That initial launch window is everything. It’s when excitement is high, buyers are circling, and agents are scheduling tours. But if your home is overpriced—even by just 5%—you lose that momentum. The NAR also reports that homes that require a price reduction take nearly twice as long to sell and ultimately net less than homes that are priced correctly from day one.

Zillow’s data backs it up too: listings that start above market value spend an average of 27 extra days on the market, and the final sales price is often lower than if they had just priced right to begin with.  

📊 Another Reason to Price with Strategy? Supply is Surging—and Buyers Know It

A recent Redfin analysis reveals that as of April 2025, there are approximately 1.9 million active home listings in the U.S., compared to just 1.5 million active buyers—an imbalance of nearly 500,000 more sellers than buyers.

That’s the most lopsided seller-to-buyer ratio since Redfin began tracking the data in 2013—marking a shift in power, pace, and pressure. In fact, the current market holds 33.7% more listings than demand can absorb, giving buyers the advantage for the first time in years. Click here for article

So what does this mean—for homes in Longview, Kalama, or anywhere else in SW Washington?

It means buyers have options. Lots of them. It means your home isn’t just competing with the one across the street—it’s competing with hundreds of similar homes, many of them newer, staged, and priced to sell. In this kind of oversupplied market, buyers aren’t making emotional bids above asking anymore. They’re waiting for the right price. And the right house. And when they don’t see it? They don’t act.

Worse, if your home sits too long without action, online interest plummets, and you start losing leverage. A stale listing often leads to price reductions, lower offers, and buyer negotiations you never wanted to entertain in the first place.

Even Zillow reports that homes listed more than 10% above market value stay on the market 30–50% longer, and ultimately sell for less than their accurately priced counterparts.

Let’s look at 2405 Maple Street in Longview—a home with great bones, a corner lot, oversized garage, and tons of potential. But it was listed back in 2024 at a price nearly $45,000 over the market comps, with no clear strategy behind it. And here we are—June of 2025—and it’s still sitting. After multiple price reductions. After months of missed opportunity. The home has now been on and off buyer radars for nearly a year, and the market has spoken. Loudly.

Even well-located, charming homes won’t perform without proper pricing. When a listing lingers this long, it creates a perception problem. Buyers begin to wonder, what’s wrong with it? And when offers finally do show up—if they show up—they’re often well below asking because the leverage is long gone. The seller’s strongest position? That was months ago, and unfortunately, it passed by.

We saw it recently in Kalama: a home originally listed well above fair market value ultimately sold for $115,000 less than asking—a stark reminder that overpricing not only delays your timeline, it often chips away at your bottom line.

Now here’s the difference: at HOME | Real Estate, this simply doesn’t happen. We’ve never had a listing sit 60+ days with ZERO activity. Not in 2024. Not in 2025. Because we don’t guess—we build launch strategies based on data, buyer trends, and real-time market shifts. Our job is to create the visibility—online engagement, showings, interest, and momentum. We bring the strategy, the marketing, and the positioning that gets your home noticed. The data, the analytics, the engagement—those are the receipts.
When your listing is getting views, clicks, saves, and showing traffic, it’s proof that I’ve done my job. That the marketing is working. That the home is positioned correctly in front of the right buyers.

But when it comes to pricing, that decision ultimately belongs to the seller, ALWAYS.

Keep in mind, views don’t equal offers. That’s where pricing enters the conversation.

So let’s be clear: you, the seller, decide the price.

Again, my job is to advise you based on the numbers, the trends, and the buyer behavior we’re seeing in real time.

Just know—if we’re getting attention and no traction, the market is speaking. And I will always tell you the truth, whether it’s comfortable or not.

Above all, we’re here to be your trusted advisor. We guide with purpose, and we advise with your best interest in mind—always.

That said, buyers determine value. They decide whether to schedule a showing, whether to write an offer, and at what number. If pricing doesn’t align with market expectations, we’ll see it—in the form of low engagement, delayed showings, or no offers at all.

A smart seller strategy blends your goals with what the market will bear. And when we get that balance right? That’s when the magic happens.

Every property we list is priced with purpose, marketed with intention, and supported by expert positioning that creates movement, not silence.

The difference between a lazy agent and a listing expert is simple. A lazy agent says yes to keep you happy in the moment. A strong agent—a results-driven agent—tells you the truth, shows you the numbers, and builds a launch strategy based on facts, not feelings,,,,and keeps you in the loop. 

No pressure. No overwhelm. Just an honest, thoughtful conversation about your goals and what it would take to get there—on your timeline, and in a way that feels right.

I’m Gena Graham with HOME | Real Estate, and I’m not in this business to gamble with your equity. I’m here to protect it.  I work across Longview and Kalama, and I’ve built my reputation on results—not fluff. I don’t just list homes. I move them—with intention, data, and proven strategy.

🚀 Ready to Sell for More?

If your last agent “gave it a shot,” but left your home sitting — it’s time to stop playing small.

At HOME Real Estate, we don’t list homes.

We position them, launch them, and sell them — with strategy, storytelling, and an all-in investment that delivers serious results.

✨ Let’s Make It Happen

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In the ever-evolving world of real estate, every decision matters—whether you're a seller aiming to maximize your home’s value or a buyer searching for the perfect property in Kalama, Ridgefield, or Camas. Your journey deserves precision, strategy, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

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✨ With HOME Real Estate | Gena Graham, you’ll experience a blend of market expertise, local insight, and personalized care. I’m dedicated to crafting a seamless experience that exceeds expectations at every turn. From strategic marketing plans and expert negotiations to thoughtful guidance tailored to your goals, every detail is handled with intention and professionalism.

Your home isn’t just a transaction—it’s a reflection of your story, your vision, and your future.

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Real estate isn't just my job – it's my passion. I love nothing more than helping people discover their perfect corner of Southwest Washington, Kalama, Ridgefield, Camas (you get the point). Ready to start your own success story? Let's chat! You can reach me at 360.431.5773 text, call or secure an appointment. 

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Gena Graham is a leading real estate expert in Southwest Washington, specializing in luxury homes and waterfront properties throughout Kalama, Camas, and Ridgefield. With over 10 years of experience and countless happy clients, she's your guide to finding the perfect home in SW Washington's dynamic market.

Your dream sale is just one conversation away. Let’s make it happen. 💼✨

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