The Top 2 Things Homeowners Need To Know Before Selling (With Key Insights for Los Angeles & Beverly Hills)

The Top 2 Things Homeowners Need To Know Before Selling (With Key Insights for Los Angeles & Beverly Hills  | Christophe Choo at Coldwell Banker Global Luxury is Your Local Real Estate Expert

If you’re thinking about selling your home—whether in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills, Bel-Air, or anywhere across the Westside—there’s one major truth you need to understand:

The homeowners who win in today’s market aren’t the ones who wait. They’re the ones who adapt from the start.

This year, many sellers didn’t get the result they hoped for. Not because the market suddenly broke—but because their expectations didn’t match what’s actually happening.

Realtor.com reports that 57% more homes were taken off the market this year compared to last. These owners listed… but didn’t sell.
And in nearly every case, it came down to two simple things: price and timing.

Here are the top lessons you can take from those sellers—especially if you’re preparing to sell in Los Angeles or Beverly Hills, where precision and strategy make all the difference.

1. Price It Right from Day One

Let’s start with the biggest sticking point: pricing.

Across the country, 8 in 10 sellers believe they’ll get their asking price or more.
But today’s reality?
According to Redfin, only 1 in 4 sellers (25.3%) actually receive above list price.

Why the disconnect?

A few years ago—especially during 2020–2022—pricing strategy barely mattered. You could list high and still get multiple offers. Buyers were competing aggressively, inventory was historically low, and homes across LA sold in days or even hours.

Those days are gone.

Los Angeles & Beverly Hills: A More Selective Buyer Pool

In Los Angeles, and even more in Beverly Hills, buyers today are:

• More analytical (especially international and tech buyers)

• More patient, because inventory has improved

• More value-focused, even at the $10M–$30M luxury level

• Far less emotional than they were during COVID

The Westside luxury market demands accurate pricing. Even a 3–5% overreach can push qualified buyers toward better-priced alternatives in the Flats, Trousdale, the Bird Streets, or Bel-Air.

And that’s exactly what’s happening:
Sellers are listing too high, attracting little traction, and then—rather than adjust—they pull the property entirely.

But here’s the kicker:

HousingWire reports the average price reduction right now is only 4%.

Had those sellers simply started 4% lower, many would have already sold.

Your Advantage: Equity

If you’ve owned your home for years, your equity is your strategic power.
It allows you to price competitively from day one while still netting an excellent return—especially in high-equity markets like:

• Beverly Hills Flats

• Bel-Air Crest

• Holmby Hills

• Brentwood Park

• Century City

• Westwood

• Hollywood Hills

The sellers who struggled didn’t recognize this.
You will—because you’re starting with the right mindset.

2. Don’t Rush the Process

The next mistake is just as common: expecting the home to sell instantly.

Many sellers still remember the “lightning speed” market of 2020–2021, when homes sold in hours and bidding wars happened everywhere—from Culver City condos to $20M estates in Bel-Air.

But today’s environment is different.

Nationwide, it now takes about 60 days for a home to sell—and that’s normal.

The Realtor.com chart above shows how days-on-market have returned to pre-pandemic norms.

What This Means for Los Angeles & Beverly Hills

In LA’s luxury segment, 30-60 days is often the baseline, not the exception.
Buyers at $5M, $10M, or $20M aren’t rushing—they’re evaluating:

• Privacy

• Views

• Architecture

• Lot size

• Renovation quality

• Permits

• Long-term value

It’s thoughtful purchasing, not panic buying.

Expectations Matter

If your home doesn’t sell in the first weekend, that’s not a warning sign—it’s simply the market moving at its true, natural pace.

A luxury listing may need:

• Time to reach the right global audience

• A few buyer cycles to bring in qualified prospects

• Exposure across digital, social, PR, and international channels

• Broker previews, events, and targeted outreach

Fast sales still happen, but they are no longer the standard.

Want to speed it up?

Positioning is everything:

• Elevated staging

• Architectural storytelling

• Magazine-quality photography

• Strong video + reels

• Cross-platform marketing

• Strategic pricing

• Local Westside expertise

With the right preparation, the right price, and the right representation, your home can still sell quickly—even in the luxury space.

Bottom Line

Today’s market isn’t harder—it’s simply different.

The listings that didn’t sell this year weren’t doomed.
They just launched with the wrong expectations and the wrong strategy.

If you:

• Price your home correctly

• Stay patient

• Understand how today’s buyers behave

• Work with a proven local expert who knows Beverly Hills and the Westside inside and out

—you can absolutely win in this market.

Because in Los Angeles real estate, success doesn’t come from waiting for conditions to improve.
It comes from launching your listing with the right plan from day one.