Selling a home in Tacoma’s competitive market can be exciting or it can feel overwhelming if you don’t have the right strategy. As a local Realtor serving Tacoma and surrounding areas of Pierce County, I’ve seen sellers not only lose time and money, but experience stress, anxiety and unfortunately, heartache; because of a few avoidable missteps.

To help you prepare and sell with confidence, here are the top five mistakes Tacoma-area sellers make – and how you can avoid them.

1. Overpricing the Home From the Start or Not Adjusting When the Market Changes

One of the biggest mistakes I see is pricing a home based on emotion or wishful thinking instead of market data. Too often sellers use outdated data when determining list price. Most Tacoma buyers are educated and have access to detailed neighborhood sales information. Buyers and their Realtor can compare data from past sales and other homes currently on the market. In today’s market, buyers consider their time to be valuable and often choose to only view homes they perceive as being a good value. Buyers today are quite savvy.

Overpricing leads to:

• Fewer showings

• Slower activity

• A “stale” listing

• Price reductions

• Ultimately, a lower final sales price than if it were priced correctly from day one

How to Avoid It

Use a professional Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), understand the neighborhood trends, and strategically price your home to attract the right buyers from day one. Take the emotion out of pricing your home. This is not the time to be aspirational or “testing the market” The longer a home stays on market, the more it costs the seller, between carrying costs, seller concessions, and price reductions.

2. Skipping Pre-Sale Prep and Repairs

Preparing a home for sale requires more than just hanging up a “for sale” sign in the front yard. Before the photos, before any marketing, the home needs to be prepared. Even the most well maintained homes require preparation. While it may seem like a no-brainer to need to tidy up or create some curb appeal, something that many overlook is the value of getting a Pre-Inspection. A Pre-Inspection is a very useful tool for sellers to stay one step ahead of buyers. The Pre-Inspection identifies issues that would likely come up later, early, before the home ever hits the market. This gives you as the seller the peace of mind and confidence to move forward in an as-is condition or take care of needed repairs before they are uncovered through a buyer’s inspection. Completing repairs and investing in a professional whole house deep clean can save you time and money in the long run. Tacoma buyers love homes that feel clean, fresh, and move-in ready, so lets give them what they want!

How to Avoid It

Before listing:

• Complete minor repairs

• Deep clean

• Refresh paint

• Tidy up landscaping

• Declutter and depersonalize

These low-cost steps often result in higher offers and faster sales.

Not sure if you have the budget to get the work done? The Windermere Ready  program provides funds to cover your home improvement costs and concierge services to simplify the process of getting your home market ready.

3. Using Poor-Quality Photos or Weak Presentation

In today’s digital real estate market, buyers see your home online long before they step inside. How your home shows up on a screen is just as important as how it shows in real life. If it shows poorly online, buyers will avoid seeing it in person. Remember- their time is valuable to them.

This is especially important in most parts of Tacoma where inventory moves fast — your listing must stand out from the competition.

How to Avoid It

Invest in:

• Professional real estate photography

• Staging

• Clean, neutral presentation

• Good lighting and angles that highlight your home’s best features

All of this links back to preparing the home for sale. Great preparation leads to a great presentation  which equates to more clicks, more showings, and stronger offers.

4. Not Being Flexible With Showings

Your home needs exposure – and lots of it. Sellers who limit showings or turn down last-minute requests risk losing qualified buyers who may never come back. Don’t make your home hard to see for buyers. Make it accessible. You are trying to sell it, Right?

Keep in mind, much of Tacoma’s buyer pool includes military families, commuters, and out-of-state relocations who frequently have very tight schedules.

How to Avoid It

Be as flexible as possible, especially during the first couple of weeks on market.
Consider:

• Communicate scheduling conflicts with your Realtor as soon as possible.

• Allowing evening or weekend showings

• Creating a showing schedule that maximizes availability

More showings = more opportunities for the right offer. The goal is to get as many motivated buyers in to view the home as possible.

5. Letting Emotions Drive Decisions

Selling a home is personal – but contract negotiations are NOT personal. Emotional decisions often lead to rejecting great offers, reacting defensively to feedback, or insisting on unrealistic terms. As a seller in today’s market, it is important to use realistic data when making decisions.

How to Avoid It

Lean on data, not emotions.
Let your agent guide you with:

• Realistic market comparisons

• Pricing strategy

• Offer evaluation

• Objective negotiation tactics

This approach keeps you in the driver’s seat – making smart, fact-based decisions to protect your financial outcome  – not reactive decisions based on emotion.

Bonus Mistake: Weak or Minimal Marketing

Putting a home on the MLS and waiting is not enough in today’s market. Poor marketing limits visibility, resulting in fewer showings and lower offers.

How to Avoid It

A successful sale requires a full marketing plan that includes:

• High-quality photos and video.

• Social media exposure

• Email campaigns

• Open houses

• Online listing syndication

• Neighborhood marketing

The more eyes on your home, the better your results. We always want the largest pool of qualified buyers as possible, so your home needs to be visible to these buyers, however they look. Is your home on digital platforms such as Instagram and Zillow? How is your home showing up online through syndication or e-mail? Do your neighbors know your home is available for sale?

Thinking About Selling Your Tacoma-Area Home?

Avoiding these common mistakes can help you sell faster, for more money, and with a whole lot less stress. If you’re preparing to list your home in Tacoma, Lakewood, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), or surrounding Pierce County, I’d love to guide you through the process.

As a local Realtor with Windermere, I help sellers with:
✔ Accurate pricing strategies
✔ Pre-sale prep and consultation
✔ Professional marketing
✔ Strong negotiations
✔ Smooth closing coordination

Ready to talk about selling your home? Contact me today – I’m here to help you get top results.

Schedule a meeting with Lavita