Minnesota Home Selling Strategies by Joe Houghton

Pricing Your House Right the First Time Set the Right Price. Maximize Your Results. One of the biggest mistakes Minnesota homeowners make when listing their property is overpricing it from the start. As a full-time Realtor with over 22 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to price a home correctly right out of the gate. Those first 7–10 days on the market are your sweet spot — that’s when your listing is freshest and gets the most attention. It’s your best shot at generating buzz, showings, and strong offers. If your price is too high, you risk losing serious buyers before they ever walk through the door. Why Pricing Correctly Matters First impressions count – Buyers (and agents) are constantly comparing listings. If your home looks overpriced, they’ll scroll right past it. Online activity peaks early – Sites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and your MLS feed give your home a quick visibility burst — but only once. Price reductions can backfire – Dr...

Pet Odor Can Chase Away Buyers — Here's How to Fix It Love Your Pets? So Do I. But Buyers May Not Love the Smell. As a pet owner and longtime Realtor, I totally understand the challenge: your home is clean, well-maintained, and ready to sell — but there’s a lingering odor that’s hard to ignore. Unfortunately, pet smells are one of the top deal-breakers for buyers , even if they love animals themselves. When you're selling your home in the Twin Cities, first impressions are everything. If buyers walk in and are hit with the scent of dogs, cats, or litter boxes, they immediately start to question whether the home has hidden issues — or worse, they can’t envision themselves living there at all. Why Pet Odors Matter So Much to Buyers It triggers emotional reactions — Buyers don’t want to feel like they’re inheriting someone else’s problems (or pets). It raises concerns about cleanliness — Even if the home looks spotless, lingering odors suggest deeper issues. It...

How to Handle a Lowball Offer on Your Home Stay Strategic, Not Emotional — and Turn a Low Offer into a Better Deal Imagine this: you’ve spent weeks preparing your home, it’s finally on the market, and then the first offer comes in… but it’s tens of thousands below your asking price. Ouch. Lowball offers are more common than many Minnesota homeowners expect — especially in shifting markets or when buyers are testing seller motivation. But a low offer doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker. In fact, it’s often the starting point for a successful sale. Step 1: Don’t Take It Personally As someone who’s helped hundreds of sellers across the Twin Cities navigate offers — from fair to frustrating — I can’t stress this enough: keep your cool. Buyers may be gauging your flexibility, reacting to market headlines, or simply aiming low to see what happens. It doesn’t necessarily reflect their true willingness to pay. Step 2: Evaluate the Full Offer Before rejecting it outright, consider th...

How to Use Comparable Sales to Price Your Home Understand the Market Like a Pro Before You List One of the most powerful tools in pricing your home accurately is the use of “comps” — comparable sales. These are recently sold homes that closely match yours in size, layout, condition, location, and features. If you're planning to sell your home in Minnesota, understanding how comps work can help you price your property to sell quickly — and for top dollar. What Makes a Good Comp? Not every sold home qualifies as a strong comparable. The best comps will have the following similarities: Same neighborhood or school district – A home just a few blocks away might not be comparable if it’s in a different zip code or feeds into a different school. Similar square footage and layout – Split-level vs. two-story, 1,800 vs. 2,800 sq ft — big layout or size differences skew pricing. Sold recently – Ideally within the past 3 to 6 months. In fast-moving markets, even 90 days ag...