Selling a Home?

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is the tool REALTORs use to figure out the value of your property. Your Real Estate III agent will consider:

• Location and characteristics of your property
• Similar properties in your area that are under contract or have sold recently
• Similar properties in your area that are currently on the market.

Our goal is to determine a price that will easily attract a suitable buyer in a reasonable amount of time–and with a minimum of hassle.

The Asking Price

Once your agent has arrived at a value for your home, you can decide on an offering price based on your goals. Do you want to sell your home quickly? Or are you comfortable waiting several months if necessary?

Generally, your asking price should not exceed that value by more than 5%--otherwise, fewer offers may come in. Even if a buyer is willing to pay an inflated price, the mortgage company may be unwilling to lend the necessary amount based on its own appraisal. All in all, setting a fair price is the best marketing strategy.

Insider Tips for Pricing Your Home

• Price your house right from the beginning for the most headache-free selling experience.
• Realistic pricing is the key to achieving maximum price in the shortest amount of time on the market.
• Your cost or profit desire is not a factor: The market is what determines price.
• The cost of improvements to your home is almost always more than the value they add.
• Houses attract the most interest when they are new to the market. Agents are less likely to show a house that has been on the market a long time.