This is a well-written post by Kristen Wheatly that really sums up the subject of pricing and selling your home - whether it be in Maine, South Dakota, or Arizona!
"I want to sell my home for as much money as possible." As a Realtor®, it is our fiduciary duty to net you the most money we can for your home, but we must price to the market, and help you to keep in mind that your home is only worth as much as a buyer is wiling to pay for it. Moving on with your own plans and closing this current chapter of your lives may be the biggest pay-off of all.
“I’m not going to just give it away!” As a full time Maine Realtor® I hear this phrase at times from potential home sellers. While I certainly understand the sentiment, I would like to suggest that we all simply banish this phrase from our common language.
I had to chuckle this week as I was having a discussion with my own mother about a potential move and sure enough, she uttered those very words.
Trust me, the buyer obtaining a mortgage that they will be paying on for the next 30 years, does not feel like they have just been given a home. Home prices are not what they were in years past, but that does not mean that realizing full market value on the sale of your home constitutes a freebie for someone else.
Here’s the thing...I’m not suggesting you drop the idea behind the phrase, but let’s go ahead and say what you really mean:“I want to sell my home for as much money as possible.”
Now on this, we can agree! I am here to use all of my experience, tools, and resources to help you achieve just that...the successful sale of your home. By “successful sale” I mean that you net the highest possible return on your investment, with the best possible sale terms, and in the time frame you desire.
I have heard it suggested that Realtors® just want to price it low, sell it quick and collect the commission. I have personally never seen this in my market. We Realtors are a competitive bunch...and yes, often prideful. We pride ourselves on being able to provide our clients with the best possible results. After all, without great results, who in their right mind would list their home with us? I’m sure when you started to consider selling your home you didn’t say to yourself, “I’ll just get any agent, I don’t care how good they are.” Of course not! You want, and frankly you deserve, the best agent possible. You want to know that time, energy, and expertise will go into the marketing and sale of your home.When you and I have a pricing conversation about the market value of your home, remember we are on the same team. I am here to develop a pricing strategy that will bring you the results you are looking for. Neither of us can control the market itself, but we can work together to position your home in the market in the best possible fashion and bring you results. I’m not just looking for plain run of the mill results. When I list a home for sale, I’m looking for put your hands up in the air, shout it from the roof top results!
I understand that some home sellers may be a bit put off or disappointed with current home values. However, we also need to discuss the goals you are hoping to achieve with this move. Why do you want to sell? What will your life look like after the sale? How much will it cost you to hang on to your home? We need to analyze both sides of the move you are considering together. We’ve got some numbers to crunch! By the time we are done looking at the big picture, you may find that you are not giving it away at all, but gaining so much more by being able to move forward with your plans.
Kristen Wheatley
The Maine Real Estate Network
34 Center Street Auburn, ME 04210
207-689-9886 mainehomeseller@gmail.com
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Information and content in this blog is original to Kristen Wheatley. Contact: Kristen Wheatley, The Maine Real Estate Network mainehomeseller@gmail.com (207) 240-2250 - Serving the Maine communities of Lewiston and Auburn Maine in Androscoggin County as well as the surrounding areas.Copyright © 2011 by Kristen Wheatley
If I can assist you in your home buying or selling in Marana, Tucson, Oro Valley, or Vail, please don't hesitate to call me! Email at swdeserthomes@aol.com
Cara Marcelle Mancuso, Long Realty, (520)909-2988
Regarding the material posted in my blog postings, these are my personal opinions and not those of Long Realty Company
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"I'm not going to give it away" is often followed by the bank taking it away.
Great post! All too often, we hear that familiar yet overused phrase that sellers use to beat up their real estate agents into listing the home at a price above the market value. We do this out of a sense of despair to get or keep the listing and believe that, over time, we will convince the seller to lower the price so it can get sold. Many times this is a useless exercise since they won't lower the list price yet berate us when the listing expires without an offer. This is the life of a real estate agent. Like it or leave it!
Cara,
Ain't it the truth! :) We just had a deal fall through for a borrower who had signed a contract to purchase a home for $100,000. The appraisal came in at $86,000. The seller withdrew from the contract, uttering those same words "I'm not going to give it away." Apparently she thinks that the next appraisal for the next buyer will come in higher. She may have a long wait...
Mike in Tucson
Cara, You chose a good post to reblog.
Have heard this sentence so many times that I sometimes say it first...."Of course you don't want to give your house away."
Margaret
Dave - you made me laugh out loud. :)
Tom - I have met more people who want to sell at top dollar and buy at bottom barrell prices - for a top dollar house, of course. It can be frustrating!
Mike - Appraisals....grrrrr...don't get me started there....grrrrr. You bring up a very good point with your story, It's a hard row with a changing market and appraisers are...well, very cautious. I have a buyer right now worried that when the appraisal comes in below their asking price, and we are certain it will, the sellers will back out. Hopefully, we'll get that price drop! What really amazes me is when you have a property that must have TWO appraisals...and they are thousands of $$$ apart. I'm sure you've seen it all, Mike.
Hi Margaret! Thanks for stopping by and have a great Sunday!