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Lots of people out there want to buy your home. The right asking price will attract buyers’ attention, and pay you a maximum return.
You don’t want to set your price too low or too high.
- Setting too low a price means you could miss out on thousands of dollars that some buyer would have happily paid.
- Setting too high a price can scare away willing buyers and leave your home on the market for too long. When you lower the price, people may assume you are under pressure to sell, and lower their offers even further.
Your goal is fair market value.
“Market Value” is a term that simply means the maximum amount of money that interested buyers are willing to pay for your property. Remember, buyers comparison shop, especially for something as expensive as a home.
REALTORS® know the general factors affecting your market.
Maybe larger families are moving into your neighbourhood. This trend will make homes with three or more bedrooms and large yards more appealing than two bedroom bungalows. Perhaps a large employer is opening a plant nearby, which will increase demand for housing in general. How are interest rates affecting people’s willingness to take out big mortgages? Do people feel confident about their financial futures? Your REALTOR® knows the answer to these questions and, more importantly, how they affect the price of your home.
REALTORS® then calculate your home’s value within your market.
After accounting for general market influences, your REALTOR® will get very specific about your home, and perform what is called a “Comparative Market Analysis” (CMA). Using the extensive background information available only to REALTORS® through the MLS listing service, they will compare your home to a collection of similar homes that have recently been sold in your area. No two homes are the same, but REALTORS® are very good at adjusting their calculations according to the differences. Your REALTOR’S® suggested asking price is thoroughly researched, and designed to maximize attention and profit for your home. You can feel confident trusting their opinion.
Comparative Market Analysis
Preparing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is an important tool Sales Representatives use to help you earn the highest possible price for your home. A CMA involves looking at the public records of real estate business in your community to better understand market conditions.
There are four steps your Sales Representative will take in preparing your home’s CMA:
- Your REALTOR® will consider the amount paid for at least 3 recently sold homes in your community. These homes will be comparable in size to yours and together comprise a factual record of what buyers will pay.
- Your REALTOR® will then consider the asking prices of at least 3 presently listed homes in your community. Because these homes are similar to yours, these homes will be the benchmarks against which your home will be priced.
- Your REALTOR® will then consider the asking prices of at least 3 homes in your community that went unsold for at least 90 days. Similar to your home, these homes illustrate the dangers of overpricing your property.
- Finally, your REALTOR® will use all the price information gathered to arrive at an ideal asking price for your home.
