Overpricing a home to leave room for negotiating usually backfires and ends with a lower sale price — bad news for sellers who aim high.

• Buyers compare listings online first, and a home priced well above similar sales often gets skipped entirely.
• The first two weeks bring the most attention; after about six weeks, interest drops off sharply.
• Homes that sit too long get repeated price cuts and make buyers wonder what's wrong with the property.
• The right price comes from recent nearby sales, competition, condition, location, and upgrades — not from what a seller hopes to get.
• A well-priced home can spark competition and pull in multiple offers.

Outlook: Sellers who price realistically at launch are the ones most likely to get strong offers quickly, while those chasing the market down keep losing ground.