On Thursday, September 24, I loaded 14 agents into the van for our caravan through Palm Coast. It rained, and we went anyway. We toured six of our listings and finished at the INB Homes Palm Coast model. That's 98 agent walk-throughs in one morning.
A caravan usually ends with a round of "nice house!" and everyone heading back to their desks. We wanted more for our sellers than that.
Our agents scored every home. Each agent carried a game card. At every stop they wrote down what they thought the home should list for, rated it one to five stars, and noted what they liked and what they didn't. We turned those cards into a one-page report for each listing: the range of price opinions, the average, the star rating and every remark, with no names attached. Our listing agents had those reports the same day, ready for their sellers.
What agents noticed most. Across 47 written remarks, three things stood out:
- Care shows. High ceilings, natural light and "very well maintained" homes earned five-star ratings almost across the board.
- Smell is the number one deal-killer. Odor came up in 13 of the 47 remarks, more than anything else. Pet odors and heavy air fresheners both got flagged. It's also the cheapest fix in real estate.
- Paint matters. Lots of different wall colors made agents think about work instead of living there. One neutral color goes a long way.
Where the market stands. In Flagler and Volusia counties combined, homes for sale are down 15% from last year, sales are up 8%, and the median sale price is $350,000, up from $340,000. Sellers are getting about 98% of their asking price. (Source: Stellar MLS, all residential, August 2026 vs. August 2025.)
When fewer homes are for sale, the homes that show well and are priced right win. That's why we ask agents what they really think.
Why we do it. Education is what sets Realty Exchange apart. We spend the money on training, tools and days like this one, and we put our money where our mouth is. Better-trained agents give sellers better advice.
Thank you to INB Homes Palm Coast for hosting our final stop and for lunch, and to FLO Mortgage for riding along.
Thinking about selling? Call or text me at 386-446-0017. I'll tell you what buyers and agents will see when they walk through your door, before they do.
Dave Petkovsek
Broker & co-owner, Realty Exchange