Pricing Your Home for Sale When Everyone Else is Overpriced

 

The past few years have been exciting for home sellers. Not only were home prices historically high but buyers were well qualified and enjoying low interest rates. Today’s housing market is dramatically different in many areas of the country. If you are considering selling your home, you may be wondering how to select the correct price when it seems all the sellers around you are still overpricing theirs. 

Working with your real estate agent, the first step is to look at recent sales, not just recent listings. You may find quickly that the homes are selling for quite a bit less than they are listed for. You also need to look at the trends. Are sales prices rising month-over-month or declining – and by how much? This can help you gauge if you should price higher than recent sales or lower. 

In areas with few recent comparable sales, such as markets with many custom homes, it may benefit you to get a professional appraisal. This will cost a few hundred dollars and will give you a full picture of the local market. Appraisers will consider the unique features of your home vs the recent sales, as well as the sales prices. This can offer great information if you have a beautiful view, a large lot, or a remodeled home. 

Finally, rely on the advice from an experienced agent. Don’t be tempted to join the pack if they are overpriced. Be reasonable in your expectations. This will allow you to sell quickly and for the best price possible in the current market.

Evaluating Schools When Moving – How to Involve Your Child

 

House hunting is exciting and most likely, your child is excited along with you. They love to explore the possible bedrooms and dip their toes in the big backyard pool. However, when it comes to changing schools, their enthusiasm may start to wane. This might not be instantly apparent, and they may not have even thought about what a move would mean to them if they needed to change schools. But involving your child during the home hunting itself can help make the move easier. 

First, start discussing the school change in the very beginning. Explain why you are moving and the benefit to the family. Explain that they will get to see possible new homes and new schools. Reassure them that the quality of the school and opportunities it can offer are prime concerns of yours as well as the impact it will have on the child. 

Share the process you will take to research the schools and share the results. Spend some time discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the various options and discuss how the change might affect the child. Take them on a school tour and help them prepare some questions of their own during the visit. Consider creating a checklist for your child to use to learn more about the classrooms, teachers, activities, and children. Spend some time discussing their opinions and feedback as soon as you finish. 

Moving can be a very exciting time, but children do not always understand or express how change affects them. School is a huge part of their life and social world, so spend the time to ensure the change is a positive one by involving the child from the very beginning.