- Consider comparables – What have other homes in your neighborhood sold for recently? How do they compare to yours in terms of size, upkeep, and amenities?
- Consider competition – How many other houses are for sale in your area? Are you competing against new homes?
- Consider your contingencies – Do you have special concerns that would affect the price you’ll receive? For example, do you want to be able to move in four months?
- Get an appraisal – For a few hundred dollars, a qualified appraiser can give you an estimate of your home’s value. Be sure to ask for a market-value appraisal. To locate appraisers in your area, contact The Appraisal Institute or ask your REALTOR® for some recommendations.
- Ask a lender – Since most buyers will need a mortgage, it’s important that a home’s sale price be in line with a lender’s estimate of its value.
- Be accurate – Studies show that homes priced more than 3 percent over the correct price take longer to sell.
- Know what you’ll take – It’s critical to know what price you’ll accept before beginning a negotiation with a buyer.
The following has been reprinted with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®