Sellers: It’s Risky Pricing High to ‘See What Happens’

Every seller wants to get the best deal for their house. So why not just price your house to the moon? After all, you can just bring it down if you need to, right?

There can be a few problems with that. If you price high and then slowly start bringing it down…and down…and down…buyers are going to notice. It makes your home start to seem like it’s in a bargain bin. You want your home to appear like a deal, not cheapened goods. When it sits on the market for an extended period of time because of overpricing, buyers are going to wonder why. Would you feel urgency as a buyer if you read that a property was listed 180 days ago? Probably not.

To set a realistic price, consider these tips:

• Do your due diligence. What have houses like yours sold for when the deal was made in a reasonable time? And what were the original prices of those homes?

• Have an honest discussion with your Realtor. He or she knows the area, and wants to sell your home as quickly as possible for the most competitive price. What does he or she think is reasonable?

• Be an assertive seller, but don’t overplay your hand. Remember, the little extra money you hold out for may not be worth the six months or year of mortgage payments you’re stuck paying in the meantime!