WHO DECIDES THE LISTING PRICE?

When you are ready to sell...who decides the listing price? 

So how do you decide the right price to get your property sold

for top dollar and in a timely manner in today's market?

This is where a skilled, experienced real estate agent is a must...

an expert real estate agent will help you gather the information you need

to make an informed decision about how to price your property. 

Are you in a hurry to sell or do you have a year to move?

Are you behind on your mortgage payments?

Is your mortgage paid off?

Do you need to find another home to purchase?

Each situation is unique and so pricing your property

 is a personal decision that is specific to your situation. 

Before you price your home, there are a few things you must do...

1.  Know your options  - in today's market you may think selling is not an option because of the amout you owe.  Are you a candidate for a short-sale?  Do you even know what your home is worth?  You may be in better shape than you expected.

2.  Know how to prepare your home for showings.  Believe it or not, the way your home shows makes a difference in the price buyers are willing to pay.

3.  Know how to beat out your competition.  In order to beat the competition, you have to know who you are competing against, what is the condition of their property, what is their price, how long have they been on the market...

4.  Discover market trends.  The real estate market is different from area to area.  What is happening in Lewiston/Auburn is different from what is happening in Portland or in Lisbon.  

5.  Know what an absorbtion rate is and why it is important to you.  An absorbtion rate will tell you how saturated the market is in your area at the current time.  If the market is more saturated, you have more competition.

6.  Know how many properties in your area that are similar to yours have sold recently.   What price did they sell for?  How long were they on the market? 

Once you and your chosen real estate agent have explored all these areas,

you are ready to make an informed decision about what is the best price for your property

to sell it for top dollar in the timeframe that is right for you.