The One Thing You Should Never Reveal To Your Real Estate Agent, Or It Could Cost You

Selling your home can be a long waiting game. Zillow reported in April 2025 that the average time to sell a home ranged from 47 to 62 days, while a June 2026 study by Realtor.com suggested homes lingering on the market past nine weeks tend to see their sale prices fall further and further from their asking prices at a rapid rate. In addition to that ticking clock, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported the national median sale price for a home was $410,700 in Q2 2026, a considerable decrease from its peak of $442,600 at the end of 2022. With the market trending in the buyer's favor, homeowners may be particularly eager to sell quickly — especially if they're seniors preparing to downsize. However, telling your real estate agent that you're desperate to sell as quickly as possible is a misstep of the highest order. 

Honest communication with your real estate agent is important, but oversharing can lead to skewed priorities when the agent lists the home and fields interest from prospective buyers. Signaling that a fast sale is at the top of your mind may come at the cost of the full sale price you could have received with just a touch of patience. For instance, realtors aware that you're desperate to sell may be more inclined to advise you to take the first offer that comes, even with Opendoor reporting that first offers can frequently be as low as 10% under the asking price. For the median-priced home in the U.S., that would come out to a discount of $41,070.

Spelling out your hopes and expectations is the best way to get what you want, but sharing too much may influence how your real estate agent proceeds. For instance, if you're in a hurry, your agent may advise selling the property "as-is," leaving any existing issues with the property on full display for potential buyers. Selling in this manner can result in a price reduction of upwards of 25%, depending on the home's condition, potentially shedding as much as $102,675 off a median-valued home's sale price.

Even if you're eager to make a move because you've become house poor or are risking foreclosure by holding onto the property much longer, showing desperation can ultimately place the importance of a fast sale above that of a valuable one. These conditions could lead your agent to advise you to accept an underwhelming offer, even if they think your house is worth more. For example, Redfin reports that a home with the right amenities — such as a good location or modern appliances — will often warrant a list price of roughly 1% to 3% above its appraisal value. But if your agent knows you need to sell quickly, they may be more likely to list it below market value to whet more appetites. For a median-price home, a 3% markup would be roughly $12,300, meaning a typical property that's priced to move fast might be leaving this much or more on the table before negotiations even begin.