Sellers, WhatEVER You Do, DON'T Just Go With The Highest Bidder !

"But XYZ Company says they can get me $10,000 more for my home than you can."

When you're interviewing Realtors, don't go with the agent who may be there for with one goal - to GET THE LISTING! - even if it means embellishing the listing price.

Actually, when an agent comes in with a pie-in-the-sky price that even makes you raise your eyebrows, you can bet that either:

     a.  The agent is inexperienced and really doesn't know how to do a thorough market analysis.

     b.  He or she may be out of her area of expertise.  All real estate is local.  Very local.  Sometimes even as local as your particular neighborhood or even your street. This is particularly true of home prices in the Louisville, Kentucky area. This agent may be trying to compare your home to a home several miles away.  Looks good on paper, but doesn't work in the real world of local real estate.

     c.  There may be an ulterior motive for listing your home at any price.  You see, statistically speaking, an agent should be able to sell TWO HOMES to buyers who call for information on your home.  So, in essence, even if your home doesn't sell, the agent has met many new potential clients and has a great chance of still earning commissions from the sign in your front yard.

     d.  The agent may not be bold enough to tell you the truth.  He or she may simply take the listing, and then hit you up later for a price reduction.

So where does that leave you?  You have a price tag on your home that will prevent it from selling.  Your home is now a "stale listing".  You fire the agent who overpromised and couldn't deliver.  You're understandably upset.  You've lost money as you have to continue to pay your mortgage and upkeep on your home.  Prime marketing time is lost.

A professional Realtor is one who will tell you the truth.  In today's market, the truth is often very difficult to hear.  But a great agent will have that hard conversation with you up front, explaining that the buyer ultimately defines the market.  Buyers will be comparing your home to somewhere between 12 and 15 others, and they will invariably go with the one that offers the very best value.

You can compare the pricing of your home to the price of a gallon of milk at the supermarket.  If you know that a gallon of milk at Safeway is $2.99, and the price of milk at Publix is $5.99, where are you going to buy your milk?  Well, what if Publix hires a band to stand out in front of their store and sing a clever little song about their milk while clowns dance around with signs that say "Buy your milk at Publix!  Only $5.99!"  In spite of all that expensive marketing and extra effort, you'll still drive over to Safeway and buy your milk for $2.99 instead, right?

Well, that's how the price of your home is determined.  A buyer will make an offer on your home at the point at which they see the value.

Look for an agent who really understands how to price a home correctly, get it sold for you at top achievable dollar, and who will negotiate in your best interest.

Contact The Shafer Team:  http://www.TheShaferTeam.com - or call us! 502.643.SOLD (7653)