When I write a blog or comments, I always try to write about something that someone out there looking to sell or buy a house may find helpful. This is great for me for a few reasons. The first reason is I get to write about what I see in the field and experience every day, another reason is maybe you will find what I am writing about helpful, and possibly allow me to help you buy and or sell your home.
Today’s thoughts are tough simply because everyone, including myself has an emotional attachment to their home. I’m going to write from a Realtors® “educated” perspective.
The more listing appointments I go on the more clear it is to me. EVERYONE is aware of the market conditions, the media shoves it down our throat every day but please keep this in mind, the media paints a picture of gloom and doom constantly, market conditions vary throughout the country, everywhere is different.
Never the less, we ALL feel our home is worth more than our neighbors but when a Realtor® comes to your house for a listing appointment they should be armed with a CMA which is called a “Comparable Market Analysis”. This “CMA” should show you comparable homes in your area that have sold in the past, I also like to show present listings, it’s your competition.
All Realtors want to sell your home, that’s the fact, however just recently in my own area, I noticed a few Realtors pricing the home too low…I think of that as a “fire sale”. Be careful of this…you should be able to negotiate the selling price with your Realtor for a number of days..here is what I mean by that.

1. Set a starting price with your Realtor, their CMA should show a high and low price to indicate the high point and low point in regards to price. Ask the agent if you could start at the high end, if you feel you MUST try that, just do that for 2-3 weeks, no more. There is a “window of opportunity” as I call it when a house is first listed. Try not to miss out on that. A good indicator is the amount of traffic that is coming through your home. If it is nominal or non-existent, lower the price. Your Realtor will have a good idea where to take it after 2-3 weeks. Consider adjusting to the mid level of the range.

2. Be educated about the market around you before you start to interview Realtors. Be honest with yourself and look to see what has SOLD in the past 6 months…no more than that.

3. Online tools to help you – Zillow, Trulia and other, will all show you solds. ALSO in the area of Camden County, Burlington County and Gloucester County, I have a tool that will work great for this. It is called “Market Snapshot” and you can find this here. This incredible tool gives you the power to see what sold, for how much, how long on the market etc….all in real time from the MLS.    Here is a picture of what it looks like

Remember, there are many factors in regards to selling a house, location, amenities, schools etc…keep this in mind. 
Hopefully, I helped take the  emotions out of selling your house.
If I can be of any assistance, please contact me.
Dave Sulvetta REALTOR®-Associate
Cell 856 889-8163
Century 21 Hearst
Camden County NJ Realtor, Camden County Real Estate, Gloucester County Realtor, Gloucester County Real Estate, Burlington County Real Estate

http://www.davesulvetta.com
http://www.camdencountyrealestatenews.com
email; dave@davesulvetta.com
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