Selling Your Farmington Hills MI Home? Pricing it Right is Key
Pricing your home correctly can be the single most important factor when you’re selling your Farmington Hills MI Home. In today’s market, high buyer demand and fewer homes make it an optimal time to sell for those who are ready to do so. Many homes on the market are selling above the asking price at a record rate. According to a recent Realtors Confidence Index Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
- Homes typically sell within 17 days (compared to 26 days one year ago).
- The average home sold has 5 offers to pick from
- 54% of offers are over the asking price
You can add about 10 percent to a comparable sale in a sellers’ market since inventory is limited and buyers are competing for fewer homes, according to Zillow. It’s also common for homes to sell for more than 100% of the list price in a seller’s market.
Setting the right asking price
In a hot sellers’ market, it may be tempting to price your Farmington Hills MI home on the high side to capitalize on this trend, but a higher asking price doesn’t mean you’re going to cash in big on the sale. Setting a higher price is likely to deter potential buyers, cause your home to sit on the market longer (never a good thing), and require a price drop that may cause prospective buyers to question why.
Instead, focus on setting the right price from the start by pricing your house based on its current condition and similar homes that have recently sold in your neighborhood or area. Review expired listings from your area to gain insights on pricing your home to sell. Compare original list prices of recently sold homes with their final sale prices. Did it take many price cuts to get a sale? Perhaps it was overpriced, to begin with?
By setting the right asking price, you will increase your home’s visibility, which in turn drives more buyers to your front door. The more buyers that are interested in your home, the more likely you’ll have a multi-offer scenario. When multiple buyers compete for your house, that sets you up for a bidding war and a bigger return.
Don’t let your asking price lump you in with the competition
Price banding is the practice of looking over current inventory in your neighborhood and finding a less crowded price point. Prices tend to get bunched up as sellers try to price their homes competitively. For example, if there are 3 homes in your neighborhood that are priced between $284,000 and $286,000, and the next set of homes start at $290,000 and up, you should take advantage of the wide-open $280,000 price band. Once you know your home’s value and have a price range in mind, it’s time to nail down the final “list” price.
Price for common online search ranges
Consider the price range your home will fall into on popular online real estate websites. Most buyers have a price range they are considering or can afford. A buyer looking at homes in the $380,000 to $400,000 range will likely not see your home if it’s listed at $405,000. But, if you choose a home listing price of $399,999, it’ll show up in their search results, and they just might end up being your buyer. While this scenario happens frequently, many savvy agents will set up search parameters for their buyers to include properties listed a little bit more above their price ceiling.
Knowing how flexible home prices can be, buyers should be made aware of properties that could be a good match for them, even if those homes are above (but within a reasonable range of) what they want to pay. An experienced Farmington Hills MI REALTOR® can help you set a price that’s realistic and obtainable.
They can provide you with a CMA, which is a compilation of recent sales from your area. It takes into consideration home details, days on the market, and final sale price. Real estate agents are used to providing comps to potential clients, and may not even need to step foot in your home.
Handling a bidding war
Bidding wars most often happen when the housing market has limited inventory and when there is more than one potential buyer making an offer on a home. These buyers end up competing to become the new owner of the property by increasing the price of their offer, often pushing the price higher than the original property value.
A badly managed bidding war can end in disappointment for the seller if the potential buyers feel misled or used. No one wants their offer to be shopped around. Keep in mind that even if one party is offering you more money than another, it might not be the best offer. Money is money, but a cash offer is generally stronger than an offer that comes with financing.
An offer that includes a mortgage will take longer to close than a cash deal, and if the buyers’ financial profile is at all questionable, there’s a chance they might not secure their financing. It’s possible that the second-highest bidder might have a more straightforward and simple financial profile, and thus be more of a slam dunk to make it to the closing table.
Leave the door open with your backups. In a competitive bidding situation, buyers can become overly enthusiastic, get caught up in the moment, and bid above their comfort level. They may even walk away due to buyer’s remorse or a reassessment of value while the contract is being drawn up.
The takeaway
Find the right list price for your home by working with a Farmington Hills MI REALTOR® who’s an expert in your area. By using their comparative market analysis, you can price your home to sell fast and for more money. In a sellers’ market, where bidding wars are common, properly handling the process is paramount and an experienced real estate agent should be able to guide you.
Partner with REMAX Farmington Hills REALTOR® -Tom Gilliam
Whether you are interested in buying a home in the area or selling your Farmington Hills MI home, take advantage of Tom’s 17-plus years of experience as a top-rated RE/MAX Farmington Hills MI REALTOR®. For buyers, Tom will help you find the perfect home for your lifestyle needs in the right neighborhood. For sellers, Tom will get your home sold fast for the best price.
Tom will look out for your best interests, advocate for you, negotiate on your behalf, and do whatever it takes to ensure a smooth and successful transaction. Get the process started today by calling Tom directly at (248) 790-5594 or get in touch by email.
Tom Gilliam, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Classic
29630 Orchard Lake Rd.
Farmington Hills 48334
Direct: 248-790-5594
Office: 248-737-6800
Email: Homes2MoveYou.com
License #314578