How Sellers Set Their Asking Price

For you to understand how much to offer for a home you’re interested in, it’s important for you to know how sellers price their homes. Here are 4 common strategies you’ll start to recognize when you begin to view homes:

1. Clearly Overpriced: Every seller wants to realize the most amount of money they can for their home, and real estate agents know this. If more than one agent is competing for your listing, an easy way to win the battle is to overinflate the value of your home. This is done far too often, with many homes that are priced 10- 20% over their true market value. This is not in your best interest, because in most cas - es the market won’t be fooled. As a result, your home could languish on the market for months, leaving you with a couple of import - ant drawbacks:

• your home is likely to be labeled as a “trou - bled” house by other agents, leading to a lower than fair market price when an offer is finally made

• you have been greatly inconvenienced with having to constantly have your home in “showing” condition… for nothing. These homes often expire off the market, forcing you to go through the listing process all over again.

2. Somewhat Overpriced: About 3/4 of the homes on the market are 5-10% overpriced. These homes will also sit on the market longer than they should. There is usually one of two factors at play here: either you believe in your heart that your home is really worth this much de - spite what the market has indicated (afterall, there’s a lot of emotion caught up in this is - sue), OR you’ve left some room for negoti - ating. Either way, this strategy will cost you both in terms of time on the market and ulti - mate price received

3. Priced Correctly at Market Value Some sellers understand that real estate is part of the capitalistic system of supply and demand and will carefully and realistically price their homes based on a thorough anal - ysis of other homes on the market. These competitively priced homes usually sell with - in a reasonable time-frame and very close to the asking price.

4. Priced Below the Fair Market Value Some sellers are motivated by a quick sale. These homes attract multiple offers and sell fast — usually in a few days — at, or above, the asking price. Be cautious that the agent suggesting this method is doing so with your best interest in mind.

For all your real estate needs, feel free to contact me.

SHAHEED CHOUDRY 647-721-1155