Sell

There are many new real estate websites out there that claim to be able to “value” your home based on a mathematical formula. By clicking through aerial maps and entering in addresses, you can see the “current value” of your home and your neighbors. However, many of these sites base their calculations solely on tax valuations and, as such, do not give a clear and accurate portrayal of your home’s value. While they can be a good place to get a feel for current home prices, I would not use them as a reliable source of information when valuing your home. The truth is, there is more involved in pricing a home than just tax data. Many factors need to be considered, such as recent remodels and updates to your home, how interest rates and job growth are affecting your local market and comparable home sales in your neighborhood. To determine what your home is worth, I sit down for a few hours and prepare a comparative market analysis (CMA). I take into consideration square footage values of comparable houses, market statistics, sold and pending property sales and houses that failed to sell. Similarly, I take into account recent improvements to the property as well as other amenities that make your house more or less marketable. If you would like a complimentary CMA within 24 hours, please email erinschedler@cbbain.com When to sell Sell now or wait until prices go up? Honestly, there are no guarantees in real estate. The best we can do is make educated guesses with the information at hand. That being said, spring and early fall are often good times to put your home on the market. You aren’t competing for buyer’s time with the winter holidays or summer vacations, and the weather during these times often makes your home more aesthetically pleasing to buyers. Most common mistake sellers make Overpricing your home! Many sellers ask if they can just “list high and see what happens”. If it fails to sell, they’ll just lower the price down the road. While great in theory, this strategy is selling suicide. Statistics show that the first 2 weeks a home is on the market is when you see 80% of attention from buyers. After this time, the attention a home receives decreases rapidly. When you price too high at the get go, you eliminate otherwise interested buyers because you’re above their price point. Listing the home at market value, not above or below, is proven the most effective way to sell your home quickly and for the highest price possible. HELPFUL LINKS Selling a Home in a Buyer’s Market Tips to Help You Sell Your Home Looking Through the Buyer’s Eyes