Answers by Beatrice Covington

Choosing a private listing can absolutely hurt your sale because it dramatically limits your exposure. Selling your home is a numbers game — the more eyes that see your property, the greater your chances of attracting multiple offers and driving the price up. Think of it this way: listing privately is like asking your agent to host an open house but only inviting the people in your immediate neighborhood. How many of those neighbors are truly in the market to buy your home? Very few. That’s time wasted and opportunity lost. When you go public — through the MLS, online platforms, syndications, and active marketing — you’re exposing your home to thousands of qualified buyers and hundreds of agents who may already have clients waiting. That competition is what pushes offers higher and maximizes your return. By “testing the waters” privately, you’re effectively rolling the dice with a much smaller pool of buyers and could end up settling for less money than your property is actually worth. If your goal is to get top dollar, maximum exposure isn’t just recommended — it’s essential.