Setting The Best Asking Price for your Calgary Home

Setting a realistic price for your home that reflects current Calgary Real Estate market values will help sell your home quickly and for top dollar. When you price your home properly, you increase the chances that the offer you receive will nearly match your asking price and that there will be competing offers, which may net you even more in the long run.

Your property has the best chance of selling within its first few weeks on the market. Studies indicate that the longer a property stays on the market, the less it will ultimately sell for. A property priced 10 % more than its market value is significantly less likely to sell within this window than a property priced close to its actual market value. About three-quarters of homes on the market, today are 5-10 % overpriced. Sellers will usually over-price their homes by this margin if, either, they firmly believe the home is worth more than what the market indicates or if they want to leave room for negotiation. Either way, if you choose to over-price your home by this amount, you run the risk of increasing the amount of time your home spends on the Calgary Real Estate Market and decreasing the amount of money you’ll ultimately receive.

At the other end of the selling spectrum are houses priced below a fair market value. Under-pricing often occurs when the owner is interested in a quick sell. You can bargain on these homes attracting multiple offers and ultimately selling quickly at—or above—the asking price.

The knowledge and skills of an experienced Calgary Realtor® like Jerry Charlton will be invaluable when determining an appropriate asking price. It is the job of your Realtor to know the current Calgary Real Estate Market and market trends inside and out, to be closely connected to the real estate market at large, and to be aware of other properties currently for sale in your particular area. Based on this range of connections and knowledge, your Calgary Real Estate Agent should counsel you on how to price your home properly to attract the highest price possible in the shortest period of time.

Before approaching this process, you should first do some homework yourself. You’ll need to know the workings of the current market before you even begin to think about setting an asking price. The market will always influence a property’s value, regardless of the state of a home or its desirability. Here are the types of market conditions and how they may affect you:

Home Seller's Market:

A Seller’s market is considered a hot market. This type of market is created when demand is greater than supply; that is when the number of Buyers exceeds the number of homes on the market. As a result, these homes usually sell very quickly, and there are often multiple offers. Many homes will sell above the asking price.

Home Buyer’s Market:

A Buyer’s market is a slower market. This type of market occurs when supply is greater than demand, the number of homes exceeding the number of Buyers. Properties are more likely to stay on the market for a longer period of time. Fewer offers will come in, and with less frequency. Prices may even decline during this period. Buyers will have more selection and flexibility in terms of negotiating toward a lower price. Even if your initial offered price is too low, Sellers will be more likely to come back with a counter-offer.

Balanced Calgary Real Estate Market:

In a balanced real estate market, supply equals demand; the number of homes on the market roughly equal to the number of Buyers. When a market is balanced, there aren’t any concrete rules guiding whether a Buyer should make an offer at the higher end of his/her range or the lower end. Prices will be stable, and homes will sell within a reasonable period of time. Buyers will have a decent number of homes to choose from, so home Sellers may encounter some competition for offers on their home, or none at all.

Remember, a Calgary Realtor is trained to provide clients with this information about the market, helping you make the most informed decision possible. The right Realtor will guide you through the ups and downs of the market and keep you up-to-date with the types of changes you might expect.

Evaluate your house in the other main areas that affect market value:

Location:

The proximity of your home to amenities, such as schools, parks, public transportation, and stores will affect its status on the market. The quality of neighborhood planning and plans for development and zoning will also influence a home’s current market value and how this value might change.

Property:

The age, size, layout, style, and quality of construction of your house will all affect the property’s market value, as well as the size, shape, seclusion, and landscaping of the yard.

Condition of the Home:

This includes the general condition of your home’s main systems, such as the furnace, roofing, electrical system, etc., as well as the appearance and condition of the fixtures, the floor plan of the house, and its first appearances.

Comparable Properties:

Ask your Calgary Realtor to prepare you a current market analysis of your neighborhood so that you can determine a range of value for your property. A current market analysis will provide you with a market overview and give you a glimpse at what other similar properties have been selling for recently in the area.

Calgary Market Conditions/ Economy:

The market value of your home is additionally affected by the number of homes currently on the real estate market, the number of people looking to buy property, current Calgary Mortgage rates, and the condition of the Canadian and Alberta economy

We Offer Free Calgary Home Evaluations