For Sale By Owner - Pricing It Right 3 Reasons Why!
Pricing your home correctly is the first and most important step
in the selling process. Whether you list with an agent or sell
by owner the wrong price will cause lost income and/or excessive
marketing time. You have options, either to contract with a
professional Real Estate agent or do your due diligence and
research to find the true Market Value of your home. In the
examples below we show why pricing is so important.
Example 1: A $250,000 home is priced 10% below the true
market value at $225,000. The home sells quickly with little or
no negotiation for possibly an all cash offer to close quickly.
This buyer maybe an investor who is extremely market savvy or a
buyer who works closely with a Real Estate Agent using cutting
edge buyer programs. This buyer probably has a VIP Buyer
Agreement with his agent and receives emails daily with all
the new listings as they come on the market. Both of these
buyers are able to act before most other buyers even know the
home is for sale, they know the area and the pricing. The
seller leaves $25,000 on the table and doesn't know it until
it's too late.
Example 2: A $250,000 home is priced 10% above the true
market value at $275,000. The home gets no buyer interest or
activity, no drive bys after 90 frustrating days the seller
reduces the price to $264,500 (still above market value). The
home still has no buyer interest or activity, maybe an
occasional drive by. So again after 90 more agonizing days they
reduce the price to $259,900 (still above the market, but within
the at least look at range). Activity does pick up but
the home now appears old on the market, the advertising photo's
are all now out of season, the visual tour looks dated. Finally
an offer if you're lucky at $235,000, after days of back and
forth negotiation you get it up to $242,000, what a deal. Now
after 6 months of agonizing frustration you lose $8,000 plus all
the extra costs of mortgage payments, interest, taxes,
marketing, repairs, maintenance, explaining to your friends why,
and worst of all, the home you wanted to buy is now sold.
Example 3: A $250,000 home is priced correctly for the
true market value between $249,500 and $251,900. This home gets
more buyer activity and more offers than the over priced homes
on the market. Homes priced at true market value normally sell
within 30 days. Of all homes listed less than 40% sell in the
first 30 days on the market. This seller will probably get a
close to full price offer and negotiate it up to full price
without much effort. No extended marketing, no explaining to
friends and family why and you get to buy the house you wanted
first. Price it right, sell quickly and for top dollar. Move
on with family to your new home with the least amount
hassles.
There are costs involved with selling your home. You must
decide which cost you want to pay, the normal marketing,
commissions, and closing costs or add in the costs of too high
or too low pricing. With a little research and knowledge you can
price it right and save a bundle.