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Pricing Your Home Correctly For Sale is Key in Selling Your Home in Chicago's North Shore Suburbs

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker

 

Pricing your home correctly for sale is key in selling your home in Chicago's North Shore Suburbs or in any part of the country.  Many sellers have a price in mind based on various factors and their personal feelings of their home.

The following post, 3 Factors That Make No Difference to The Right Price For Your Home, hones in on 3 factors that DO NOT DETERMINE THE RIGHT PRICE for your home.

If you are a seller on Chicago's North Shore and would like a market evaluation of your home then contact me and  let's talk.  At the end of the day, you should have a real estate professional represent you, be correctly priced within your competition and be able win the beauty contest!

 

The single most important factor in selling your house is the price.  At the right price, almost anything will sell but what is the right price? 

Here are three ways NOT to set the price on your house:

1) Predetermined Return on Investment (ROI).  For example, you decide that you must get a 20% ROI -the house you bought for $400,000 must go for $480,000 plus commission and other expenses.  House prices may be dropping.  What is the current economic situation and how are houses selling in your neighborhood?  If all the house prices are dropping, expect that your house price will drop as well.  Buyers don't care about your investment (initial investment, equity and return strategies).  Houses sales are not made based upon a Seller's ROI. 

2) Return on Improvements.  For example, you put on a new roof ($10,000) and installed 10 new windows ($10,000) so you want $20,000 above what other houses have been selling for in your neighborhood. Buyers don't cares what you paid for maintenance and improvements, only that they don't have to do it.  All that matters to the buyer is that the house is in good shape.   House sales are not made based upon a Seller's Return on Improvements.

3) Return plus coverage of your outstanding mortgage and the real estate fees.  For example, you owe $100,000 on the house and the real estate fees are going to be $20,000.  You want your house to sell $120,000 above what you paid.  No buyer cares what your mortgage is or how much you are paying in real estate commission.  Everyone is paying off mortgages and paying commissions.  House sales are not made on the basis of what a Seller owes. 

You, the owner, can set any price you want for your home.  Your agent, under fiduciary responsibilities, is required to obey your instructions and list the home at the price you instruct.  However, you may never sell your house if the price is not what the market will pay.   Listen to the advice of your REALTOR®.  Look at comparisons, what is on the market now and what has sold and at what price.  This is an indication of the state of the market.  

Your selling price should not be a "feeling".

Photo credit:  New Windows @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkmoose/250056085/

Valerie Zinger  email: vzinger@royallepage.com  (613-723-5300)

Royal LePage Gale Real Estate,  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada  

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For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email Noah@NoahLevyHomes.com   Noah Knows Real Estate

I look forward to hearing from you!  

 

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Comments(4)

Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Return.....too may sellers are beyond the point of return...or no return...and it takes courage and an open mind to admit that....blog on !

Oct 23, 2010 01:22 AM
Judy Greenberg
Compass - Long Grove, IL
Compass- Long Grove -Buffalo Grove

I agree with Valerie's analyss about price.  In ths market it needs to be compelling!  Nothing else matters

Oct 23, 2010 05:43 PM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Valerie's statement, "You, the owner, can set any price you want for your home.  Your agent, under fiduciary responsibilities, is required to obey your instructions and list the home at the price you instruct." needs to be considered in the right context.  While sellers are free to decide what price they want to list their home at, listing agents are free to decide whether to enter into an agency relationship with that seller.  Taking an overpriced home puts a listing agent in an untenable situation because in order to execute their fiduciary responsibilities they have to be able to defend the home price and not just "It's the seller's price, not mine."   So how do you defend an overpriced home without looking like an idiot to other agents or lying?  It's a no win situation.

Oct 24, 2010 02:27 PM
Noah Levy
Coldwell Banker - Highland Park, IL
Coldwell Banker Highland Park IL

Sally & David - It does take a lot of courage and an open mind for the seller - it's our job to educate them so they can move on.

Judy - The correct list price is crucial but also having your home in pristine condition will make it shine in the marketplace.

Gail - I agree with your statement 100% -"while sellers are free to decide what price they want to list their home at, listing agents are free to decide whether to enter into an agency relationship with that agent." When going on a listing presentation I tell the sellers that I would rather disappoint them today than in 6 months when we do not have an offer - I have walked away from multiple opportunities because the seller did not like my suggested list price - five of those listings have been on with various agents now for 9+ months.......

Oct 25, 2010 12:03 AM