Why Your Neighbor’s House Sold for $200K More (and It Wasn’t the Curb Appeal)
Spoiler: It wasn’t the wreath from Hobby Lobby or the gnome holding a “Welcome” sign.
So your neighbor’s house sold for $200,000 more than yours… and now you’re lying awake at 2:00 a.m. doing Zillow comparisons like it’s your ex’s new relationship. We get it. It stings.
Their lawn wasn’t greener. Their paint color wasn’t trendier. And their dog still barks at Amazon drivers like it’s his full-time job. So… what gives?
Let’s break it down—because it wasn’t the curb appeal. And it definitely wasn’t the garage gym they started in 2020 and abandoned by February.
1. Market Timing Is Everything (Even When You Think It’s Not)
Let’s say your neighbor listed during a seller’s market—a magical window of time when buyers were practically throwing offers like confetti and waiving inspections like it was Vegas.
You, on the other hand, listed during “interest-rate limbo,” where buyers tour homes with a calculator in one hand and a therapy dog in the other. Different seasons = different outcomes.
The market is like avocado toast—great when it’s fresh, overpriced when it's been sitting out too long.
2. Their Price Was a Strategy—Not a Wish
You priced your home at what your uncle said it was worth after walking through during Thanksgiving dinner: “This is definitely a $1.2 million house, easy.”
Meanwhile, your neighbor priced theirs at $999,000… on purpose.
Why? Because psychology works, and pricing just under a major threshold brought in more buyers, sparked multiple offers, and started a bidding war that made their final sale price look like a jackpot.
This is real estate, not The Price Is Right. You don’t win by guessing high—you win by playing it smart.
3. They Hired a Realtor, Not a Relative
Your neighbor brought in an experienced, full-time agent (maybe from The Agency Oklahoma—just saying) who knew how to prep, stage, and launch the listing like it was a Hollywood premiere.
You? You used your cousin Steve because he “just got his license” and “watches a lot of Million Dollar Listing.” The only thing Steve staged was a half-eaten sandwich on the kitchen island during showings.
Professional realtors know how to create demand. Steve might be a great guy, but Zillow photos taken with an iPhone 7 aren’t going viral anytime soon.
4. Presentation Matters: It’s Not Just a Home, It’s a Brand
Your neighbor didn’t just list their house—they marketed it. High-end photography, drone footage, cinematic walkthrough videos, social media buzz, and maybe even a little international exposure.
Their home became the listing everyone wanted to see, not just scroll past. Meanwhile, your photos still had pizza boxes on the kitchen counter. Small things matter, y’all.
5. They Trusted the Process. You Rushed It.
Selling a home isn’t just “stick a sign in the yard and wait.” Your neighbor decluttered, painted, staged, stored away 47 ceramic roosters, and followed every professional suggestion—without taking it personally.
You insisted your 2004 red accent wall was “coming back in style” and that buyers would “love the lived-in vibe.” (They didn’t.)
Bottom Line?
Your neighbor didn’t have a better house. They had a better plan. They didn’t rely on hope—they relied on strategy, timing, and a professional team that knew what they were doing.
The good news? You can do it too. Just please, for the love of your home’s value—don’t ask Steve.
Wyatt Poindexter
The Agency Oklahoma
📞 405-417-5466 | www.WyattPoindexter.com
