Statistics show how to sell homes in less time. How? Price it at market from the start.
Sellers commonly ask why can't we just start a little higher and see if someone makes an offer. The reason that idea doesn't work is because when a home is priced above its true value, it doesn't compare favorably with the homes that are priced at their true value.
This is especially true for homes that are in a market where the values are declining. For example, let's take a home that has a real value of $300,000 and it is put on the market at $315,000. The home does not sell because compared to some other $315,000 homes (which are priced at their real value) this home doesn't show as well. $15,000 may not seem like much for a home that is priced around $300,000 but $15,000 is about what a builder (in this price range) would charge to add a sunroom or partially finish a basement. So which house would you buy between 2 houses that are practically identical, and priced the same - the one with the sunroom or the one without it? See the difference?
Now factor in the fact that the market is dropping in value 1% every 60 days - which is what we've recently experienced in New Castle County in the past 12 months. So now the house has been sitting on the market for 4 months without a price reduction. And now its real value has dropped 2% or $6000. Now the house is $21,000 over-priced. Buyers and their agents quickly recognize that it's overpriced and showings have decreased dramatically and continue to decline. Now the only way to sell this home is to have a price reduction of at least $21,000. However, now it's been on the market for 4 months and that may not be enough of a price reduction to get it sold. Had the home been priced at its true value it would have had a much greater chance of selling within the first 2 months. See the chart below that shows homes priced correctly from the start (not requiring a price reduction) sell on average in less time and for a higher percentage of its listed price vs. the homes that required one or more price reductions.
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http://lindenhillvillage.typepad.com/files/ncc-chester-and-de-cnties-ave-sf-table-sp-op-comparison-oct-1009-john-luca.jpg Also feel free to contact us for additional Charts and Tables specific to your area
About John Luca:
John Luca's ability to "know" the market, his pleasant & honest demeanor, and his ability to provide our clients with the professional service they desire and deserve, are just a few reasons our clients are happy clients. John's negotiating experience combined with his staging abilities, benefit our clients' net profit when buying or selling. John is licensed in Delaware, Pennsylvania & Maryland and is an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist.
Mary Luca is President of Tri-State Team as well as a Certified ePro Realtor, and services our team by focusing on real estate technology and marketing. Her background in personal real estate investments, technology and trading at JP Morgan, and her love for analytics, provide the team with a guiding force in securing the best technology and marketing for our clients' needs. Mary is a Delaware Native and is licensed in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
John's Profile: Top of the Rock 2007 (top 3% of Prudential Realtors Nationwide) Chairman's Circle Award Winner Accredited Luxury Home Specialist Staging Advisor Active Real Estate Investment Experience Licensed and Active in Delaware, Pennsylvania & Maryland Member 2 MLSs: Sussex & TREND
Mary's Profile: Technology and Marketing Strategist for Tri-State Team Certified ePro Realtor (1% of all Realtors) Active Real Estate Investment Experience Lifetime Delaware Native MBA; BS Economics; MIS; University of Delaware JP Morgan (Delaware) & Morgan Guaranty International Finance Corporation - Past Vice President, Treasurer, Trader & Business Systems Analyst Search ALL DE, PA & MD Listings - www.JohnLuca.com
These reports reflect the views and opinions of their authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of Realty Times.