Pricing Your Home Right

How much could you sell your home for—and how confident are you? Are you going with your gut? Trusting a Zestimate that doesn’t know about your upgrades (or the outdated kitchen you never got around to fixing)? Are you willing to risk the one-two punch of long days on market and visible price cuts that scream “desperate seller”?

I have a Brentwood client (listing below) who planned to spend a few weeks off-market, working with our contractor and stager to get their home parade-ready. Instead, we’re making the most of that time in Private Exclusive status—allowing select buyers to tour, gathering feedback, and fine-tuning our pricing strategy before a single day is logged on Zillow.

Pricing Your Home Right: Avoid the Zillow Trap and Sell Smart

The WSJ (article below) recently highlighted a shift in the housing market—sellers pulling listings at record rates at the close of 2024 while inventory stacked up and sales hit a 30-year low. But the market isn’t frozen, just pickier. Some sellers are holding out, but others are pricing smartly and moving their homes despite the uncertainty. The key? Understanding today’s market, not yesterday’s prices. Buyers are still willing to pay, but only for homes priced and positioned correctly from day one. 

Overpricing forces sellers into a painful cycle of price reductions, damaging perception and ultimately leading to a lower sale price than if they had started at the right number. A listing that lingers on Zillow with price cuts isn’t creating urgency—it’s signaling that something is wrong. Today’s buyers are data-savvy and hesitant to engage with homes that look “picked over.” In contrast, a well-priced home, marketed strategically, can still sell quickly and at a strong price. 

The Secret to Beating Price Cuts and Long Days on Market

That’s where off-market strategies like Compass Private Exclusives make all the difference. This early-access approach strategically introduces your home to over 1,000 top Compass agents in Middle Tennessee (including PARKS, Village, and Pilkerton agents), before it ever hits the MLS and Zillow. This gives you valuable feedback and pricing discovery, private showings, and the chance to secure an offer without accumulating days on market or suffering public price cuts. And if it doesn’t sell in the first phase? You enter the broader market with insights that position your home for top offers—without the damage of a misfire. 

Click text or image for Compass Private Exclusives - Seller and Buyer Benefits

Early Access, Big Advantage: How Buyers Benefit from Compass Private Exclusives

For buyers, Compass Private Exclusives offer a unique advantage. These listings are shared privately for a set period or, in some cases, never made public on home search sites like Zillow. This gives buyers early access to homes before they hit the open market. Having this first look means buyers can tour and make offers on properties before they’re widely known, potentially securing the right home without the stress of a bidding war.

Click text or image for Private Exclusive - 1262 Bridgeton Park Dr, Brentwood

Click text or image for WSJ February 2025 Housing article