What NOT to Say When Selling a Home in San Diego
What shouldn’t you say when selling your home in San Diego? Avoid phrases that give buyers leverage, create doubt, or weaken your negotiating position. By staying mindful of your words and focusing on the right home selling process, you’ll protect your equity and improve your chances of a smooth, profitable sale.
Ultimately, though, the best approach is to let an experienced agent do the talking for you. As a top San Diego real estate agent, Melina Rissone knows that the right language can make all the difference at the negotiation table. And she coaches her sellers to communicate with care to avoid losing valuable leverage.
Why Your Words Matter in the San Diego Home Selling Process
Selling a home in San Diego isn’t only about staging, pricing, and marketing. The conversations you have with potential buyers, agents, and even neighbors can shape how smoothly the transaction goes. A simple comment like “we’re anxious to sell” can instantly lower your negotiating power.
In San Diego’s competitive real estate market, buyers are looking for any detail they can use to negotiate. Being careful about what you say is just as important as following the right steps in the home selling process.
Melina Rissone often reminds sellers that “your words can add or subtract thousands from the final sales price.” Her home selling tips are rooted in two decades of local expertise across neighborhoods like University City, Bankers Hill, and Point Loma.
1. Don’t Say: “We Have to Sell Quickly.”
This is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make. Telling a buyer you’re in a hurry can be seen as a green light for lowball offers.
Instead, let your real estate agent manage the timeline. If you do need a faster sale, there are professional strategies that achieve results without giving away your urgency. Pricing correctly from the start, preparing the home properly, and marketing aggressively are all important factors.
2. Don’t Say: “We’ll Take Any Offer.”
While flexibility is helpful in negotiations, stating you’ll take “any offer” makes buyers assume they hold all the power. In competitive neighborhoods like Mission Hills or South Park, you may attract multiple offers if the home is positioned right.
A better approach is to express openness to offers while letting your agent communicate the standards and expectations for serious buyers. Melina sets a tone of willingness to “review” or “consider” all offers, rather than “take” them.
3. Don’t Say: “The House Is Perfect.”
It may sound positive, but overselling your home as “perfect” can backfire. Buyers in San Diego are savvy and often hire inspectors. If issues arise, your credibility suffers, and buyers will wonder what else might have been exaggerated.
Instead, highlight strengths honestly: for instance, a location near Balboa Park, walkable access to Hillcrest dining, or a recent kitchen remodel. Focus on the features that buyers in San Diego value, without setting unrealistic expectations.
4. Don’t Say: “We Never Had Any Problems.”
Even if you haven’t personally dealt with issues, dismissing potential concerns can create distrust. California law requires sellers to disclose known defects, and failing to do so could cause legal complications later.
If you’ve maintained the property, share that instead: “We’ve invested in regular roof maintenance” or “We had the HVAC serviced annually.” This shows pride of ownership without ignoring disclosure requirements. Ultimately, the maxim that Melina uses with her clients is: “When in doubt, disclose it!”
5. Don’t Say: “We’re Not Willing to Negotiate.”
Firmness can push buyers away, especially in a shifting market. In 2025, San Diego buyers are benefiting from increased inventory compared to 2021–2022, which means they have more options.
This doesn’t mean you have to accept unfavorable terms, but signaling total inflexibility can lead buyers to walk away. With guidance from Melina Rissone, you can find a balance between protecting your bottom line and keeping deals moving forward.
6. Don’t Say: “We’ll Throw in the Furniture.”
Offering extras can sometimes help close a deal, but mentioning it too early may make buyers question the value of the home itself. It can also complicate the process, since personal property is often handled separately from the real estate contract.
If you want to include items, discuss it strategically with your agent rather than presenting it as a negotiation point from the start.
7. Don’t Say: “We Already Got a Better Offer.”
Even if it’s true, this can appear dismissive and discourage other buyers. In San Diego’s competitive neighborhoods like North Park and Point Loma, multiple-offer situations are common, and every interested buyer deserves a professional, respectful response. Your agent can handle these conversations while encouraging healthy competition, which often drives up the final price.
How to Protect Your Sale: Local Expertise Matters
The San Diego home selling process is about much more than just listing your property. It’s about positioning yourself correctly in the market, avoiding missteps, and working with an agent who understands how every detail can impact the outcome—including one’s choice of words.
Melina Rissone brings over 20 years of local experience in San Diego neighborhoods, as well as a trusted reputation built on integrity, negotiation skills, and tailored strategies for homeowners at every stage of life.
Speak Carefully, Sell Successfully
When it comes to selling in San Diego, what you don’t say is just as important as what you do. From avoiding phrases that signal desperation to choosing honesty over exaggeration, your words help protect your negotiating power and ensure a smoother transaction.
That’s why it’s so valuable to have a seasoned agent guiding the conversation and advocating for your best interests. By partnering with an experienced San Diego real estate broker like Melina Rissone, you’ll receive the right home selling tips, guidance on the full home selling process, and the confidence of knowing you have an advocate who understands both the market and the nuances of communication.
Thinking about selling your San Diego home? Contact Melina Rissone, Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker West, for a personalized consultation and expert guidance that protects your equity and helps you achieve your goals.
Melina Rissone
Having sold properties for more than 20 years and earning various prestigious awards throughout the course of her career, Melina Rissone has more than earned her reputation as one of San Diego's most skilled and trustworthy real estate brokers selling homes and luxury condominiums. Her loyal clientele would share that Melina brings structure and planning to chaos. She specializes in supporting her clients and their referrals; families and individuals going through divorce and seniors and active adults planning their moves and financial decisions during their retirement years.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and Institute of Luxury Home Marketing certified.
Certified Senior Advisor by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors
RCS-D Designation, a Real Estate Collaboration Specialist for Divorce.
SRES Certification through NAR is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist certification.
Melina is bilingual in English and German.
Recognized as the Top 4% of all real estate brokers in San Diego County in 2021 and the Top 3% of Coldwell Banker International.
Coldwell Banker Presidents Elite Award.
Recognize as the Top 2% of Coldwell Banker West in 2024.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and Institute of Luxury Home Marketing Certified.
Melina is a true professional! She is responsive and thorough. She offers important insights through the home buying and selling process. She has a network of connections so that specialists may be brought in when needed. Melina was our real estate broker when buying a home in 2017. And she is the person I have returned to as we consider selling. Melina is a top notch broker in San Diego!
-Catherine
