08/09/2026
I had to tell a seller something I knew was going to hurt.
We sat down to talk about selling his home, and I told him that based on the market today, we may need to list approximately $75,000 below what he originally paid for the property.
And I didn’t stop there.
I told him the truth about the worst-case scenario too.
Depending on how the market responds, we could ultimately find ourselves $115,000 below what he paid.
I could see how difficult that was for him to hear. And I hated having to say it, and I let him know I was having zero fun in this conversation.
But here’s the problem.
His community is surrounded by new construction. The same builder has opened a second phase, and a comparable-sized home has a base price roughly $150,000 below what he paid for his home with finishes.
That’s competition we can’t pretend doesn’t exist.
Another agent had already met with him and discussed a starting list price but didn’t go beyond that. I chose to have a different conversation.
I showed him the best case, the realistic case, and the possibility we needed to be prepared for if buyers didn’t respond.
He hasn’t decided whether he’s going to list. And I don’t know if he’ll choose me.
But I left that appointment knowing I told him the truth.
Because my job isn’t to say the number that gets my sign in your yard.
I will never tell you what you want to hear just to win your listing. I’ll tell you what you need to know so you can make the best decision for yourself, even when that truth is painful.
Markets change. Values change. And sometimes that means having conversations neither the seller nor the Realtor wants to have.
If you’re considering selling in Orlando and you’re wondering what your home would actually sell for in today’s market, I’m happy to sit down with you and go through the numbers.
No inflated promises. No pressure. Just a real conversation about your options.
