Your Home’s Value
In a neighborhood of similar homes, why is one worth more than another? That’s the question that’s teased buyers and sellers for ages, but the answer is simple.
Every Home Is Different
When a home is sold, a willing seller and a willing buyer determine the value of that home with the sale price. That price then becomes a benchmark for other similar homes, but other factors come into play. The most important are:
-
Location: The closer a home is to jobs, parks, transportation, schools, and community services, the more desirable it is.
-
Size: Square footage impacts home value because a larger home is built using more materials, and gives the homeowner more usable space. And a larger lot size could mean more privacy than a smaller one.
-
Number of bedrooms and baths: Additional bedrooms and bathrooms raise the value of a home compared to similar homes that do not have those rooms.
-
Features and finishes: Features such as outdoor kitchens and spa baths make a home more luxurious. A home finished with hardwood floors and granite countertops is going to cost more than a home with carpet and laminate countertops.
-
Condition: The closer a home is to new construction, the more it will retain its value. It’s perceived as more modern, up to date, and perhaps safer. Homes that are not updated or in poor repair sell for less as purchasers’ factor in the cost of updating and eventually replacing appliances and systems.
-
Curb appeal: From the street, the home looks clean, fresh, and inviting. Fresh landscaping and flowers won’t change the size or location, but they certainly add charm.
When two homes are identical in the same neighborhood, a higher price may come down to something as simple as views, paint colors, or the overall taste of the homeowner.
Pricing
-
Pricing a home for sale is as much art as science, but there are a few truisms that never change.
-
Fair market value attracts buyers, overpricing never does.
-
The first two weeks of marketing are crucial.
-
The market never lies, but it can change its mind.
Fair market value is what a willing buyer and a willing seller agree by contract is a fair price for the home. Values can be impacted by a wide range of reasons, but the two biggest are location and condition. Generally, fair market value can be estimated by considering the comparables; commonly referred to as comps – other similar homes that have sold or are currently for sale in the same area. Sellers often view their homes as special, which tempts them to put a higher price on it, believing they can always come down later, but that’s a serious mistake. Overpricing prevents the very buyers who are eligible to buy the home from ever seeing it. Most buyers shop by price range and look for the best value in that range.