The Truth About Price Reductions: When (and When Not) to Lower Your Price in Sheboygan County

If your home is on the market in Sheboygan County and you’re not getting any offers, it’s understandable to start considering a price reduction. This is often the first piece of advice sellers receive. But is it the right move for you?

From my experience, a price drop can be a smart, strategic decision—but it can also backfire if it’s done too soon or without a clear understanding of the situation. Before you make any drastic changes, let’s take a step back, evaluate what’s really going on, and make the choice that aligns with your goals.

Let’s explore when a price reduction is a good idea—and when it’s not.

The First 7–10 Days Are Critical

When your home first hits the market, that’s when it garners the most attention. It appears in saved searches and catches the eye of motivated buyers who’ve been waiting for the right opportunity. If your listing doesn’t gain traction during this initial window, it usually indicates that something isn’t quite right.

Sometimes the issue is the price. But just as often, it’s about how the home is presented or how well it’s marketed.

If the photos don’t highlight your home’s best features, if staging wasn’t done effectively, or if the marketing didn’t reach the right audience—dropping the price won’t address the real issue.

That’s why we always take a strategic approach, especially during those first crucial days.

What the Data Is Telling Us

It’s not just us noticing an uptick in price reductions lately.

According to Redfin, 24.3% of listings had at least one price drop in March 2025—a significant increase from the previous year. This trend reflects a more cautious buyer pool. With rising interest rates and tighter budgets, buyers are taking their time and comparing options.

Here’s the key takeaway—homes that experience multiple price cuts tend to sell for less than those that were priced correctly from the start. Frequent reductions can signal to buyers that there’s something wrong with the property.

That’s not the impression we want associated with your home. Setting the right price with your real estate agent's insights isn’t just a step; it’s a crucial element for a successful launch that attracts offers and secures the best price.

When a Price Reduction Makes Sense

There are definitely moments when adjusting the price is the right call. Here’s when we’d suggest it:

• You’ve had consistent showings, but no offers. This often means buyers see the home as a fit—but not at the current price.
• Similar homes nearby have sold—and yours hasn’t. If the comparable sales are clear, buyers are likely comparing, and we’re out of sync.
• The original list price was more of a wish than a strategy. This can happen, especially if you launched with hopes based on last year’s market highs.

In these situations, a well-thought-out price adjustment—coupled with a renewed marketing effort—can help rekindle interest and get your listing back in front of serious buyers.

But…

When You Should Hold the Line

Sometimes, it’s not about the price. Lowering it won’t necessarily solve the problem.

Before we recommend any changes, we’ll ask:

• Was your home marketed to its full potential? High-quality visuals, strong listing copy, and targeted exposure can make a significant difference. If those elements were lacking, we’ll address them first.
• Were showings easy to schedule? If buyers couldn’t get in—or had limited availability to view the home—we may not have seen the full demand yet.
• Were early offers dismissed too quickly? We’ve seen sellers turn down solid offers just because they didn’t meet the list price. The first offer often opens the conversation, not closes it. With the right counter and informed negotiation, we can still reach your desired outcome.

Dropping the price hastily, without adjusting your approach, can backfire. It’s not just the price that matters; it’s how buyers perceive the value they’re getting.

What We Do Instead

Before making any moves, we take a moment to audit everything:

• We review the photography and staging. Are we showcasing your home’s strongest features?
• We analyze buyer feedback. What insights are emerging from conversations or showing reports?
• We relaunch marketing if necessary. If the initial round didn’t gain traction, we’ll try again—with fresh eyes and renewed energy.

Sometimes just repositioning the listing—without changing the price—can make a world of difference. We’ve had properties sell at full asking price after we updated the photos, revised the description, or adjusted our promotional strategy. It’s not always about the price; it’s about how the home is presented.

The Real Cost of Overcorrecting

If a price drop is too steep—or happens more than once—it can send the wrong message.

A 2024 NAR report found that homes with multiple price reductions sold for 6.7% less on average than homes priced appropriately from day one. This means that repeatedly lowering the price can lead to a lower final sale price than simply pricing it right (and being patient) from the start.

So before we adjust that list price, we’ll explore all the options. Because reducing the price is usually a permanent decision.

Selling Smart in 2025

In this market, pricing is crucial—but it’s not the only tool in our toolkit. The goal isn’t just to sell; it’s to sell with confidence, clarity, and the best possible outcome for your next chapter.

If you’re feeling uncertain about your next steps—or wondering if a price drop is the right move—we’re here to help you sort it out.

Let’s take a look at your home, your market, your buyer feedback, and make the decision that makes the most sense for you.

Your home deserves a thoughtful plan—not a knee-jerk reaction.