Should I Hire the Realtor Who Gives Me the Highest Listing Price?

No. The Realtor who suggests the highest listing price is not automatically the best person to sell your home. A better choice is the agent who can support the price with recent comparable sales, current buyer activity, your home's condition, and a clear strategy for getting you the best realistic result.

What to know

A suggested listing price is an opinion and a marketing strategy, not a promise that a buyer will pay that amount.

The National Association of Realtors recommends looking at factors such as the home's size, location, condition, amenities, recent comparable sales, current competition, market conditions, and the seller's timeline when deciding on an asking price. The seller ultimately has the final say on the listing price.

That is why it can be useful to interview more than one agent. If three agents suggest prices around $700,000 and one recommends $775,000, the important question is not which number sounds best. It is what evidence supports the difference.

A strong agent should be able to walk you through a comparative market analysis, often called a CMA, and explain why certain homes are good comparisons and others are not.

For Riverside County sellers, Grove Realty describes a similar approach, looking at factors such as recent comparable sales, property features, location, condition, and current market demand before recommending a competitive listing price.

Why it matters

Pricing too high can reduce the number of serious buyers who see or consider your home.

Buyers commonly search within specific price ranges. A home priced above what buyers believe comparable properties are worth may receive fewer showings, fewer offers, or repeated price reductions. Recent Redfin guidance notes that overpriced homes can lose early momentum and remain on the market longer, while competitively priced properties are more likely to attract serious attention.

There can also be an appraisal issue after you accept an offer. If a financed buyer agrees to a price that the appraisal does not support, the lender may not lend the full amount originally expected. That can lead to renegotiation, additional cash from the buyer, or problems closing the transaction.

The goal, therefore, is not simply to start with the biggest number. It is to choose a price that gives you a strong chance of producing the best combination of buyer interest, offers, terms, timing, and net proceeds.

Examples

Suppose Agent A recommends listing at $725,000 and shows you several recently sold homes between $710,000 and $735,000. The agent also explains how your home's condition and upgrades compare with those properties.

Agent B recommends $790,000 but cannot point to recent sales that support the number. The higher recommendation may sound appealing, but it does not necessarily mean the home is worth more or that buyers will pay more.

There is also a middle ground. An agent might recommend testing the upper end of a reasonable range because inventory is low or because your property has features that are difficult to find. That can be a legitimate strategy when the agent can explain the reasoning and has a plan for measuring buyer response.

For example, the agent might review showing activity, online engagement, buyer feedback, competing listings, and new comparable sales during the first few weeks. That is very different from simply choosing an unusually high price and hoping someone pays it.

What to keep in mind

When comparing Realtors, pay attention to how each person arrived at the suggested price.

Ask which recent sales are most comparable to your home, what competing homes buyers will see at the same price, how long similar homes are taking to sell, and what the plan will be if buyer activity is weaker than expected.

Also compare more than price. Look at the agent's marketing plan, communication style, local knowledge, negotiation experience, preparation recommendations, and ability to explain the numbers clearly.

A good listing conversation should leave you understanding the strategy, not simply feeling excited about a high estimate.

If you are selling in Riverside or elsewhere in Riverside County, Marni Jimenez could help you review local comparable sales and understand what pricing approach makes sense for your specific property and goals.

One simple next step

Ask each Realtor you are considering to show you the three to five comparable sales that best support their recommended listing price,