Pricing your home correctly

Pricing is the most critical aspect of selling a home. You must set the market price versus chasing the market price. To do this correctly, we use a well researched market analysis, our knowledge of your specific community and a thorough personal examination of your home.

We will review the information with you and discuss your motivation, timeline and objectives. After considering all of these factors, we will give you our professional price determination. Then it is in your control to set the market price.

While considering our price determination, it is important to recognize that our evaluation is not based on emotion or personal attachments. As fellow homeowners, we understand these factors can affect your opinion and decisions about pricing. That is exactly why it is so critical to review our information and discuss your objectives with an open mind and an appreciation for our knowledge and experience. This will further your ability to set the market versus chasing the market.

Dangers of Overpricing Your Home

You will lose the excitement that a new listing generates: Real estate agents are working with buyers who have seen what is currently on the market and are waiting for something new to be listed. Therefore, the most activity will take place in the first 30 days of a listing. Your home will probably receive its highest and best offers during this time. After that initial period, the only people to look at your home will be new buyers in the marketplace.

You will lose the most qualified prospects: Buyers won't be able to 'make an offer' because they probably won't see your property. They will view the properties that are priced within their purchase power range, knowing that they cannot afford anything above their price range.

Overpricing helps sell the other, more competitively priced homes first: Your home may be used to demonstrate the good value of other properties. Your objective should be to enter the market in a position that will attract prospects, not drive them away.

Your home may become stale on the market: Prospects may wonder why it has been on the market so long or if something is wrong with the property, even after you lower the price. You may even have to settle for less than market value. A house takes on a reputation surprisingly fast, so don't wear out your welcome on the market.

If you do get an offer, the contract may fall through because of appraisal problems: The lender must justify the price to the market before approving a loan.