Published July 21, 2025
Preparing Your Home to Be the Prettiest at the Dance
DESCRIPTION:
The shifting real estate landscape demands new strategies from sellers who might unknowingly be sabotaging their own success. Jesse Poll and Jessica Taggart Marron dive into this timely topic with candid conversation and practical advice for today's market.
After seven years of sellers holding nearly all the cards, buyers now have options—and they're using that leverage. Through revealing stories and real-world examples, our hosts illustrate how seemingly minor issues can derail transactions. One seller nearly lost their buyer over a $250 home warranty dispute, while another couldn't fathom their million-dollar property would sell for less than their aspirational asking price.
The market isn't crashing, but it is "healing" from an unsustainable period of growth. This correction means understanding the temperature of your specific market segment is essential. While homes under $500,000 in certain areas might still favor sellers, properties over $1 million face a staggering nine-month supply of inventory with just 40 monthly buyers for 358 available homes.
Jesse and Jessica share game-changing tactics for today's environment, including the underutilized "reverse offer" strategy. When buyers return for second showings, sellers can take the initiative by presenting an offer first—demonstrating flexibility that might secure hesitant buyers. They also advocate for pre-inspections, creating transparency that builds buyer confidence rather than skepticism.
Property preparation remains crucial, with seemingly minor details making major differences. Matching light switches, clean HVAC filters, and addressing carpet issues directly rather than offering concessions can prevent buyers from overestimating repair costs and dramatically reducing their offers.
Whether you're selling now or considering it in the future, this episode provides crucial perspective on navigating today's changing market with strategies that position your property as "the prettiest at the dance." Connect with us to learn more about implementing these approaches for your specific situation.
Have other questions about living in, moving to, or visiting St. George and Southern Utah? Just ask!
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🌟 Who? Jeremy Larkin was born and raised in St. George, Utah and is the owner of The Larkin Group Real Estate Advisors.
📍 Where? Washington and Iron County, Utah, including, but not limited to St. George, Washington City, Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Cedar City and Parowan.
💈 What? Jeremy and his team of expert advisors at The Larkin Group walk the best clients in the world through the brain surgery of Buying, Selling and Investing Southern Utah Real Estate! And perhaps more importantly, they LOVE this community and pouring their heart and soul into it!
📻 Tune in! Jeremy is the host of The "St. George Real Estate Morning" Drive radio show 94.9 FM / 890 AM. You can stream the weekly program Thursdays at 8:35 AM here: https://tinyurl.com/radiorealestate
🙏 Give: The St. George Basket Brigade feeds 200+ families every Thanksgiving and supports local families, students and schools through organizations like Tan's Treats. Learn more and give at http://stgeorgebasketbrigade.org/
🔍 SEARCH ALL HOMES AND LAND in Washington County https://www.gostgeorge.com/
🔗 CHECK YOUR CURRENT HOME EQUITY @ https://www.gostgeorge.com/homevalue
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:01:03] Sellers Getting in Their Own Way
[00:06:07] Market Temperature and Price Ranges
[00:10:57] The Buyer's Perspective and Negotiation
[00:12:36] Reverse Offers: A Strategic Tactic
[00:17:17] Pre-Inspection and Home Preparation
[00:21:27] Final Thoughts and Closing
