For the majority of my clients, selling their home marks the exciting first step in turning over a new leaf, whether they are upsizing to make room for a new member of the family or making an interstate move to take advantage of promising career prospects. While I understand their eagerness to move on to their next adventure, I’m always sure to caution them about what can make or break their home sale.
In short, trusting your agent and remaining flexible are key to achieving a successful home sale at the right price. While you might see your home as bursting with curb appeal and be tempted to price it accordingly, potential buyers surveying a range of homes might observe flaws that you had written off as endearing or simply come away from your home-staging feeling like the sale price isn’t that much of a value. Don’t immediately list your sale price on the high end while expecting prospective buyers to negotiate it down; by doing this, you may steer away large swaths of buyers sticking to a particular price range via online searches or those who might otherwise be interested if the starting price were more in line with recently sold properties around yours.
To ensure that your asking price is reasonable, work with your agent to determine the final prices on recent sales in your neighborhood and arrive at a round figure that won’t seem too rigid to prospective buyers. Your agent may also have insight into factors like the local market and attractive features your home has that could boost your asking price.
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to negotiate! Taking a small price cut now could be better in the long run than having the house on the market for months on end.