Getting your home sold quickly and for a fair price is challenging in any market. While there are real estate agents who focus on such things as staging and making small repairs, strategic pricing is even more important. Buyers who begin their home search on the Internet often filter their choices by price first, so listing your home at a competitive value will get more eyes on your property.Many homes are discarded by prospective buyers as not being in the appropriate price range before they even have a chance of a showing.
Your asking price is often your home's "first impression", and if you want to receive the most money you can for your home, it's imperative that you make a good first impression.
Setting the asking price of your property is as much about knowing how buyers think as it is about how much the property is worth.
1. Price it rightIn order to set the right price, check out your competition first. A little real-estate research can be handy. Take a look at homes sold in your neighbourhood. Ask yourself: what are they selling for? How long have they been on the market? Study the supply and demand within your neighbourhood to consider whether to price your home above or below the market value.
Pricing your home lower than your competitors can essentially generate more offers, thereby driving the price higher. On the other hand, price it too high and you risk buyers going into “sticker shock”.
2. The missing penny trickTo grab the attention of potential buyers, Take a pricing tip from discount retailers like Wal-Mart. Take, for example, $19.99 vs. $20.00. While it is only a penny difference between the two, the $19.99 price seems like a better deal! Why? Because when people see a price, they make judgements in a fraction of a second whether it is a good or bad deal. And, since we read from left to right, the first number receives the most focus. Therefore, a home listing for $199,999 will generate more attention then $200,000 because people will perceive $199,999 to be a better deal. Retailers have been using this proven strategy for a long time; make it work for you.
3. Raise the reference pointYou can raise people’s reference point by asking for a higher price. People use that information in setting their reference price. In addition, you can affect the reference price of buyers by telling them the price of competing properties in the neighbourhood. However, pass along this information only if the comparisons are in your favour.
On the other hand, if you set a price that is implausibly higher, the impact will be less than if you set a price that's more reasonable.
4. Send the right messagePeople associate precise numbers with bargains. If a house should sell for around $300,000, then offering a round number like $295,000 will convey quality and willingness to negotiate, and choosing a higher but precise number like $295,485 would indicate a bargain.
A precise number may also signal that you have given careful consideration to the price and you aren't inclined to negotiate, however, you may want to use this trick with caution.
5. Setting the asking price. If your home is in a new development and you want to give the impression of prestige, go for a nicely rounded (up) price. But if you're going for a quick sale and you want to give the impression of a bargain, go for a precise number.
6. Make the price cuts easy-to-understandWe perceive easily computable discounts as better than larger discounts. A discount from $395,485 to $385,485 might seem better than from $395,485 to $378,495.
When a home has been on the market too long and very few offers have been made, the logical option is to reduce the asking price. But by how much? The trick here is to reduce the price by a nice, easy-to-calculate number so buyers can easily calculate their savings.
The longer your house sits on the market, the less cash it commands. Use these expert tricks to sell your house fast and maximize your profit.
Contact me at www.kimlouie.net for a free Home Value Report or to chat about the current real estate market.
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