Crazy Reasons that Seller’s Use to Over Price a Home
When you think of purchasing a new Scottsdale home, you likely dream of large master bedrooms, a open remodeld kitchen, large luxurious bathrooms and a large pool with a water feature. And while this is the case with many Scottsdale and Arizona homes, it's certainly not the case with them all. There are some homes that sellers overprice considerably, and not because they have made a pricing mistake. They are fully aware that they are pricing their home high, and the reasons will vary from one seller to the next. When you see the ridiculous reasons why sellers hike up the prices on their homes, you'll be left puzzeled and amazed. After all, some reasons just make it seem like sellers don't even want their home to be SOLD!
Take a minute to read about these overpriced properties; you'll be thoroughly entertained and may even learn a few things NOT to do if you decide to sell a home in the future.
Memories
Everyone gets an emotional attachment to their home, especially if it's a place where they raised or started a family or went through a lot of lifestyle changes. Of course those memories are important to a seller, but they aren't necessarily important to the buyer. Sellers who hike up the price of their home just because they have an emotional attachment generally don't sell quickly or end up lowering their price down the road. If you're putting a price on your memories, then you may want to re-think things. This could end up costing you more in the long run when you sit on the market unable to sell.
A Celebrity Used to Live Here
This can be a tricky one, because sometimes a celebrity owner can absolutely mean getting more money for the home. BUT, that's not always the case. It really depends on the celebrity who lived in it and how long ago that was. And, of course, it also depends on what the home looks like and where it's at. Most people won't want to live in a run down house if someone they've never heard of lived in it 30 years ago.
Pride of Ownership
Some owners feel entitled to a certain amount of money for their homes, and are insulted when they are offered anything less. Unfortunately this makes the entire sales process extremely emotional, and generally ends up upsetting the seller, buyer and even the real estate agent! In fact, having too much pride in your home can actually get in your way of selling it. Buyers don't want to work with someone who isn't flexible or willing to negotiate. It's good to have pride in your home, but it's also important to have a realistic view of how much you'll receive for it when it comes time to sell. In order to have the best chances of getting it off the market, try to disconnect from the emotional attachment you have with it. View the house from a buyer's perspective and you'll have a whole new point of view.
DIY Home Evaluation Research
"I went on ZILLOW’s website and it told me my home is worth a LOT more than you're telling me it's worth." That is something a lot of agents hear (including myself), and a big reason why sellers think they should sell at a higher price point. The truth is, those websites don't consider all of the small details that go into pricing a home. You know who does do that? A real estate agent! Their job is to fairly price the home so it sits on the market for the shortest amount of time possible. Ask the owner when the last time Zillow was actually in their home.
The House Around the Block Sold for the Same Price!
At any moment there are generally several homes in every neighborhood up for sale. It's extremely important to look and see what those homes are going for price-wise, but you shouldn't base your selling price off of those. Your neighbors could have homes that sold for more money because of upgrades, more square footage, more bedrooms, a better layout, pool, or many other reasons. Talk with your agent about homes in your neighbourhood and what makes them different from yours so you can price accordingly. Every home is unique, and you can't assume your home is worth as much as another in your area. It's also important to keep in mind the market fluctuations can affect your selling price, and your agent should consider that when helping you.
The Last Agent I Met With Gave Me a Higher Price
Agents realize that you're going to meet with several different people choose who you sell your home with, and it's actually something I encourage you to do. After all, you want to find the person who is the best fit for selling your home and who will work hard for you. What's important to know is that some agents are simply going to tell you what you want to hear so you are more likely to hire them. This is really unfortunate, because it sets you up for likely failure to sell. You need an agent who is going to be honest and realistically set your expectations. Overall this will be the more reliable choice, and that can mean selling your home more easily than you would otherwise. Keep in mind, there are listing collectors out there, agents who simply love listings, they may not sell them, and they eventually expire and then where are you?
I Have Great Neighbors
How close are you with your neighbors? Most people who have great relationships with theirs think that this is a huge selling point with their homes. After all, who wouldn't want a neighbor they could rely on for house sitting, the occasional dinner or getting the mail while they are out of town? While this could certainly be something that attracts some buyers, it's not a reason to raise the price on your home. That's because most buyers simply want to live in a good, safe area of town. Most purchasers generally aren't necessarily looking to have close relationships with those who live next door to them, and that could potentially raise some problems for both households involved. It's crucial to keep in mind that just because you're friends with the people around you doesn't mean that new buyers will be as well. Very few people will pay a premium to know they have good neighbors, especially since people move and not all personalities mix well. What buyers today do pay more for is safer, more beautiful neighborhoods, not those that only come with a couple of nice people next door. They want security in knowing that their purchase will be an investment that will increase in value because the entire neighborhood is desirable as a whole.
I Want to Retire Are you ready to take out your retirement funds and finally travel the world? Or maybe you're just going to move to a comfortable little home that you can live the rest of your life in? When sellers are ready to retire, they are normally extremely motivated to get the keys into the hands of a new owner. Unfortunately this motivation can get in the way of that happening when the seller calculates how much money they'll need for a cushioned retirement. Any seller should know that they can't overprice their home just because they need the cash to retire. Buyers want a good deal and won't overpay just to make the current owner's bank account ready for their next stage in life. Unfortunately if the seller doesn't realize this quickly, they could hinder their own plans by not selling their home in a timely manner.
I Made Upgrades and Deserve a Premium
Doing upgrades and repairs to a home is incredibly important, and can absolutely make all the difference with how much you can sell your home for. However, the type of work you did and where it was done is what's key to getting more for your asking price. For example, if you made a really cute kid's room, it may not be something that buyers really care about, especially if they don't have kids. But, if you took the time to have your kitchen renovated and your bathrooms upgraded, then you will likely get more money for that work. Another thing to consider is who did the work. Most buyers want to see that a licensed contractor did it, as that ensures that any construction was done up to code and with proper permits, especially if it included plumbing or electrical work.
If the Agent Works Harder, the Home Will Sell at Any Price Almost every agent who has been selling homes for a while has heard a client say "if you work harder then I can sell my home at the price that I want to". Unfortunately this is not at all reality, because even the best agent in the world can't sell a home that's priced too high for no apparent reason. Agents do all that they can to sell homes as soon as they are hired, and that's because they genuinely want to get it off the market. There's no "hard work" they can do to make buyers want to purchase a place that is obviously not worth the asking price. Any seller that thinks an agent can work magic to sell their home is going to set themselves up for frustration and disappointment. They likely won't be able to sell their home for a while, and may have to go through several agents before they realize their error.
Consider This
Have you ever come across a home that was clearly overpriced? If you haven't but are about to search for homes, it's very likely that you'll see several. And, if you end up really liking one that you know is priced too high, make sure you have a reliable real estate agent by your side, like me, Jeff Fisher. I’ll be able to give you honest advice about what you can expect and whether or not the home is worth pursuing.
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