November 14th, 2025
A Traditional Misperception
I’ve spent years studying what influences a home’s sale price and time on the market. I’ve learned that what most people believe isn’t true. Homes don’t simply "sell for what the market dictates." The way a property is positioned, promoted, and presented can significantly influence its ultimate sale price.
The approach I’m about to share is a little-known (even among real estate agents) strategy for not only selling homes at higher prices, but also selling them within a few days.
Quiet Dread & Cruel Time Counter
There is a quiet dread that settles over most people the moment they decide to sell their home. It’s not the packing or goodbyes; it’s the long, uncertain waiting that follows.
Days turn into weeks. The cruel little time-on-market counter ticking away online, whispering to buyers that the price is out of line. Time on the market is acid to a home’s price. Always.
But what if the waiting and uncertainty weren’t necessary? What if you could sell in a few days, and for more money, by having your agent do something simple and inexpensive that almost no one does? Let me tell you what that is.
The Buyer You Want Is Already Looking
Most sellers, and many agents, never realize a curious truth: The very best buyers for your home, the serious ones, are already out there looking right in your neighborhood. They’ve almost surely looked at other homes for sale like yours. They’re qualified and ready. All you need is a way to reach them.
And that is where this quiet little strategy begins.
A Few Calls, A Big Advantage
Your listing agent doesn’t need to buy expensive ads or host a parade of open houses.
They simply need to pick up the phone.
Before they meet with you to talk about listing, savvy agents call other listing agents who currently have homes for sale similar to yours. They introduce themselves, mention they may have a similar property coming soon, and ask about recent showings or possible price reductions. It’s a friendly, professional exchange, and valuable input for you to hear before deciding on your asking price.
But that informational call is also where the opportunity to sell your home blooms. During those conversations, your agent can make the agents representing those other sellers an irresistible offer:
"You’ll be my first call the moment I list this home. You’ll get all the details right away so if you have potential buyers, they can be first in the door, first with the opportunity to buy before it’s listed in MLS or online. That will make you look like a hero in your buyers’ eyes and give you a first shot at earning a commission. And if you’ll share the names of agents who recently showed your listing, I’ll call them too, then pay you a 20% referral fee if their buyer purchases my new listing."
Just like that, all the agents with competing homes become your home’s cheering section. They now have a reason to help sell your home.
That’s how a few intelligent calls can identify what could well be the most serious buyers for your home.
The Power of the VIP Showing
When those buyers come through your door, something wonderful happens. They feel privileged, part of a secret, like they’ve been invited behind the velvet rope.
It’s not just another showing. It’s a VIP opportunity. They know your home isn’t yet public. They sense urgency and the need to act quickly to head off possible buyer competition when your home is posted to the MLS and on home search websites like Zillow. This results in higher offers. And because your home has no "days on market" stigma, there’s no negative perception that it’s been rejected for price or defects. This also results in higher offers.
Price and Speed, Working Together
Will this always result in a quick sale at a great price? No one can promise that. But it’s the most logical place to start. It makes sense that the best buyers for your home recently looked at similar homes for sale. They’re not miles away. They’re right there, probably at your agent’s fingertips, just a few strategic phone calls away.
In my view, one of the biggest problems in our industry is throwing homes on MLS and Zillow, waiting for calls, and believing that's strategy. It's not.
