Pricing Your Home
In order to sell a home for every dollar it's worth, please consult a
Real Estate expert,
licensed Realtor®. While you might enjoy researching property values on your own, much of the information you'll find is either out of date or just plain incorrect.
In fact, all of your research won't take into account one important consideration: not all homes are created equal. Your home's unique features, used in the right way, can increase its appeal to potential buyers.
To find out what your home is worth,
a
licensed Realtor® will provide you with a
Comparative
Market Analysis (CMA) which shows the prices of
comparable recently sold homes, homes currently on the
market, and homes that were on the market, but didn't
sell.
Here are 5 other time-tested strategies to help you understand how much your home is worth:
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Ignore your personal point of view - Buyers care more about how they see using the home than about how much you paid for it or how many memories your family shared there. Unfortunately, this is just a fact.
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Do your own market research - Talk to your
neighbors to learn about homes selling in your
neighborhood. We recommend that you should always consult with a
Professional Realtor®.
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Consider RECENT upgrades - Upgrades are an important factor - but only if they're recent. Major improvements can also benefit you, especially in the bathroom and kitchen, but be realistic about the present condition of the improvements. For example, a 10 year kitchen is not a new kitchen. ;-) Make a list of improvements you've undertaken since you bought your home:
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New roof
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New Windows (dual pane/energy efficient)
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New carpets and/or hardwood floors
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Major kitchen remodel and/or bathroom improvements
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New furnace / water heater
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Fresh paint - indoor/outdoor
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Alterations/additions/permits
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Consider market conditions - Are homes in your area selling quickly or languishing? How many houses are on the market in your price range? Are interest rates attractive? Is it a buyer's market or seller's market? Is the local job market strong?
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Sweeten the deal - If you're willing to close in 30-45 days, you'll attract buyers who will want to move right away. You may also want to contribute to some of the buyer's closing costs to help facilitate the close.