Why Effective Pricing is So Important in Today's Home Selling Market

Selling a home is an exciting adventure.  There are several things to keep in mind however, if you want to be successful.  Most home owners take a lot of pride in their homes.  And that's the way it should be.  But pride does not always convert to dollar signs.

Let's take a look at the Lincoln, Nebraska market as it is today.  At this very moment there are 1,776 houses for sale in Lincoln.  Now, luckily for most sellers, buyers are looking for a specific price and size range along with a certain number of bedrooms and an area of the city closest to work or family members.

So, let's break this down into a very popular home and look to see how many 3 bedroom homes there are available in Lincoln today.  That number is 527.  That's still a huge number of homes for a prospective buyer to fathom.  Now, their real estate pro will help them narrow that number down even further by price, area, and bathrooms and a whole slew of other features. 

But today, I'm talking simply price.  The average price of these 527 homes is $162,218.  The average Days on the Market is 75.  The least expensive home is $79,000 and the most expensive home is $239,900.  So, let's take the least expensive house and search for homes between $79,000 and $162,218.  Only 318 homes in that price range. 

How do I ensure that your home gets noticed?  The obvious answer is that I get more information from the buyer to narrow down the search.  But more importantly, I work with you to make sure that your home is priced right.  A $79,000 3 bedroom home is going to look very different from a $239,900 3 bedroom home.  Or at least we're all hoping they look very different.  But if we price your home at $79,000, it probably needs to look like it's worth $85,000.  And on a side note - I say "we price your home" because it's something you and I will work on together.

So, how can we improve the appearance?  When you list your home for sale with me, I'll give you a cheat sheet that will give you all the answers.  But some of the answers follow.

• Make sure the interior decorating is up to date.  Brass sea shell shaped curtain rods are no longer the fad.  Switch to something more natural looking.  Be sure any scuffed paint is repaired.  Remove stains from carpeting, consider new carpeting, or consider a carpeting allowance.
• Clean!  A clean home appears to be worth more.  And a buyer might wonder what is hidden if they can see dirt, grime, or even filth.  Keeping it clean is not easy, but it will pay off in the end.
• Maintain the exterior appearance.  Keep the lawn mowed, the trees and shrubs trimmed and everything in tip-top shape.
• Make necessary repairs.  Fix things that get broke.  Fix them before you list and if they break during the listing period, get it fixed.

You want to sell your home quickly and get the most money for it as possible.  Your goals are my goals.  By working together and taking an honest buyers-eye approach to getting your home ready to sell, it will sell faster and for more money.  You may have to set a little pride aside to do so, but it will be worth it.  Doing these simple things will help your home stand out.  First price it right, price it to sell.  Then follow my cheat sheet to help ensure you get the highest offer possible for your home.