Netflix's Selling Sunset taught us this failsafe tactic to sell a house quickly

It sounds simple, but get it wrong and your house could be left sitting on the market

Selling Sunset tip to sell a house quickly
(Image credit: Netflix)

This week has been a cause for celebration among Selling Sunset fans as the fourth season of the show has been confirmed on Netflix. Last summer Selling Sunset became a surprising source of real estate advice, and taught us this Selling Sunset tip to sell a house quickly - never overestimate your asking price. 

The reality TV show focuses on the lives of the real estate agents from the Oppenheim group real estate brokerage. While the LA-based firm specializes in selling luxury homes to the rich and famous, there was one property that proved too expensive for even them - the $75 million dollar house. 

The eye-wateringly expensive house sparked controversy during seasons 2 and 3 as real estate agent Davina Potratz struggled to find a buyer. Jason Oppenheim, head of the brokerage, claimed in the show that the property was priced too high to sell.

Selling Sunset tip to sell a house quickly

(Image credit: Netflix)

By the end of the series, the property was still on the market, and it seems Jason was right. Getting the price right on a property is critical to selling a house quickly, whether it is a multi-million dollar mansion or a family home in the suburbs

‘Asking price is always key. Pricing too high initially can potentially lead to a stale listing that doesn't sell, and ultimately missing a hot market window,’ says Robin Walpert, Sotheby’s International Realty - Santa Monica-Venice Brokerage. ‘In today's market where buyers are feeling so much consumer confidence, poor pricing could be an incredible financial blunder.’

selling Sunset tip to sell a house quickly

(Image credit: Netflix)

‘Today's buyers are educated and understand when a home is priced well. If priced well from the start, you should expect to receive aggressive offers right at or around your asking price,’ adds Todd David Miller of The Agency.

It might sound simple, but getting the asking price right is the best-proven selling tactic for shifting a house of the market quickly. So how can you make sure you’ve got the asking price right? The answer is simply measuring your expectations and choosing an experienced agent to work with.

Selling Sunset tip to sell a house quickly

(Image credit: Netflix)

‘Properly pricing a property is an art which requires professional experience, analysis of the recently sold properties, examination of on market competition and anticipation of market trends and activity,’ explains Allie Readyhough Shore of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty. ‘When priced correctly, a property will not only sell quickly…it will ensure the seller gets top dollar.’

If you aren’t sure your real estate agent is being upfront with you about a realistic asking price, you can always do some digging yourself. Look into the asking prices of similar properties in your area on Zillow or similar property websites.

The current state of the US property market, where there is a shortage of properties for sale, does allow some scope for ambitious pricing however tread carefully. Don’t get carried away and end up in your own version of the $75 million dollar house saga.

Rebecca Knight
News Editor

Rebecca Knight is the News Editor on Real Homes. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She moved into digital journalism and developed an interest in homes and interiors when she joined the Ideal Home website team in 2019. Since then she has written for a range of gardening and interior websites including Town and Country, Homes and Gardens and Living etc. As a flat renter, she is always looking for smart DIY hacks that can be easily removed without annoying her landlord, whilst also helping her save money towards her first home. 

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