A realistic asking price will help to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. By properly pricing your home you ensure that the gap between the asking and selling price is small and that there will be a greater likelihood of competing offers. Your home will also maintain its 'marketability' for a longer period of time before people start to say... "That home has been for sale forever. What's wrong with it?"

A house that is priced 10% over its actual market value is many times less likely to sell in the initial 30 days of marketing than one priced within 5% of its true value. Not only will an over-priced home take longer to sell, it is also likely to sell for less than it's actual value. This is due to the "discount" often associated with properties that have been on the market for a longer than average time.

It should be pointed out that recommended listing prices are based on historical sales and current market conditions. It is always difficult to walk the fine line between getting the most for a property while at the same time ensuring your asking price is competitive enough to attract serious offers.

How you feel about testing the market will determine how much higher than the current selling prices of similar properties you'll wish to ask for your home. You can always start at a higher price than the market is currently bearing and then, if necessary, reduce your price at a future date. The drawback to this is that it could take longer than normal to sell and you could end up helping to sell other similar homes as they may look comparably less expensive than yours.

This is where the experience and knowledge of a good REALTOR is invaluable. REALTORS spend a lot of time and energy making sure they know their local market inside and out. They keep their finger on the pulse of the market and have the resources, connections and ability to keep you up-to-date with its constant changes. They know all of the properties currently for sale in your area and are literally your best resource for determining and getting the highest price possible.

Market Conditions and the Value of Your Home

No matter the condition or desirability of your home, its value will be affected by current market conditions. Here are the various conditions you may encounter and how they will affect you:

Balanced Market:
The number of homes on the market is equal to the number of buyers (supply equals demand). In this market, prices are stable and homes sell within a reasonable period of time. It is a calm atmosphere with buyers having a satisfactory number of homes from which to choose.

Seller's Market:
The number of buyers exceeds the number of homes on the market (demand greater than supply). In this market prices are increasing and homes sell quickly. As a seller you will probably have more negotiating power and obtain a higher selling price for your property. Unfortunately you will be on the other side of the fence when purchasing your next home.

Buyer's Market:
The supply of homes exceeds the number of buyers (supply greater than demand). In this market prices tend to drop and the homes stay on the market longer. Thus your home may take longer to sell and you will have less negotiating power in terms of the selling price. Fortunately you will be in the driver's seat when making an offer on your next home.

IN SUMMARY:
When you understand current market conditions, you are better able to position yourself as a Seller. It helps to know if you are in a Seller's, Buyer's or Balanced market when setting your asking price. In a Seller's market, there is little competition and you may ask for and achieve a slightly higher price than you anticipated. In a Buyer's market there is a lot more competition and Buyers have plenty of choices and room to negotiate, forcing you to be very competitive when setting your price. In a Balanced market you will have a fair number of showings and sell in a reasonable amount of time if properly priced.