You might get that price when "you know what" freezes over!

You MIGHT get that price.....when YOU KNOW WHAT.... FREEZES OVER!
By Michelle Shelton, REALTOR, Certified Negotiations Expert

Comps or comparables are easy enough to pull from the MLS...any REALTOR can do it. They might even call it a market analysis. Any REALTOR can use a computer to pull properties. Heck, even your title rep can do "comps". A true market analysis is explained to you by a competent and knowledgeable professional. A professional will guide you through an evaluation of what the market is currently doing. They will be able to dicypher the information and what is really going on in your neighborhood or any neighbhorhood in the Valley. If you are thinking about a neighborhood specialist, HA! A neighborhood specialist may not be the best choice(read more about neighborhood specialists here)

The "Market" is alive and it changes every day. If an agent is not actively closing transactions every month, they won't "see" the changes, just like buyers and sellers don't "see" the changes until they are in the middle of buying and selling their home....but then it is too late!

Don't simply go by the "comps" in this market - The great agents don't give the "comps" much value in pricing a home. It's true, an appraiser must show three like sales in the market. However, the market is on it's way down and that means that lenders will only allow you to go back about 90 days NOT six months. There are other things an experienced agent will be able to tell you that others won't know. It can make or break your negotiations and pricing.

Experience in real estate will net you more in the long run on both the buying and the selling side.

GET A "REAL" market analysis NOW!  

About the Author
© 2007 Michelle Shelton
Michelle Shelton, is a licensed REALTOR®, Marketing and Listing Specialist with Keller Williams Realty Southeast Valley in Gilbert, Arizona. Michelle is the CEO of AZ Mastermind Group, LLC. She is also a Certified Negotiations Expert, Certified T-3 Trainer and recruiter for Keller Williams International. Michelle lives in Gilbert with her husband Paul Shelton and their five children - Marie, Phillip, Sam, Josephine and Emma Shelton. Michelle's parenting, employment and real estate articles have been published in various publications throughout the country and on the Internet