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Get
Ready
Pricing is one of
the most crucial aspects of your marketing effort. The figure your choose
must reflect the various attributes of your home, the state of the market,
and your need or desire for a fast sale.
Setting a Price
Deciding on the right price isn't always easy. Set too high a price and
your home may languish on the market - too low and you may get thousands
less than you could have.
Work with Your Agent
Your agent is in the market every day - no one can offer you a better
view of pricing and sales activity. After your agent is familiar with your
home and its features you can schedule a meeting to discuss pricing. Your
agent will probably prepare a comparative
market analysis that indicates a listing price - but don't be hesitant
to disagree or discuss another figure. Just make sure that you are realistic.
Consider Market Conditions
Real estate markets are highly cyclical. While home prices have typically
risen over extended periods of time, the road is sometimes a bumpy one.
The price you will get for your home - and the time it will take to get
it - depend to a great extent on the overall state of the market. Our guide
to evaluating real estate markets can
help you figure out how to proceed.
Be Objective About Your House
It's important to be objective about your home when setting pricing.
Remember, it's really not relevant what you paid or how much you love the
property - the important consideration is what the market will bar at this
time.
How Quickly Do You Need to Sell?
Setting real estate prices is not an exact science. A low asking price may
generate a fast sale, while a bit of patience - and a higher listing price
- may allow you to net a larger figure. It's important to be honest with
yourself about your needs when setting a price. Our quick
sale checklist can help you decide whether to price in the lower or
upper ends of the range.
Is
Your Home Overbuilt?
Generally, nicer homes yield higher sales prices. This relationship begins
to diverge a bit, however, near the top of the market. Overbuilt homes rarely sell for the prices it appears that they should. Buyers in
the price range of the overbuilt home are generally interested in more upscale
communities, while the typical buyer in the area cannot afford to pay a
significantly higher price. If your home is overbuilt you may have to accept the fact that you won't be able to get the price
you want.
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