The Bouwman Realty Group Seller’s Advantage! 

Why choose a corporate franchise firm when you can have a company that is local, personal and professional on your side!? The internet, IDX, and social media have leveled out the marketing and accessibility playing fields. Bouwman Realty Group is a firm that knows our local market, is connected to the community and truly cares. We use exceptional presentation and aggressive marketing to market your home. We believe that customer service is paramount. We market with state of the art technology but also recognize that real estate is still a local business, tied to our community and relationships within.

Sellers Guide – How do I price my property?

There are many websites, including Realtor.com, Zillow and Trulia that try to tell you what your home or property is worth. Some people believe that you can double the price of your SEV, (state equalized value) and get the value of your home. None of these sources are very reliable.

Bouwman Realty Group is here for you; we have 25 years of experience and superior knowledge of our local market. We will guide you with setting a price for your home which will get you top dollar, with minimal time on the market.

These are the facts & how the pricing process works….

Prices need to be grounded in reality. You may be tempted to try listing your home at a high price just to see if you can get it.

Don’t do that!

Pricing your home appropriately from the beginning is critical to getting it sold quickly and at the best price. Overpricing your home and then dropping the price several times while it sits on the market usually leads to selling it at a much lower price than what you originally should have asked for it. The longer a home stays on the market, the deeper the discount is likely to be off the original price.

Here are Steps for Pricing your Home

Step 1: Step Back; think like a buyer!

Often sellers are too emotionally attached to their homes to objectively place a value on their own property. Buyers do not care how much you paid for the home, the balance of your mortgage, or the profit you want to make so you can move into another home. Your home is worth what the market will bear. Pricing your home too high keeps some potential buyers from even looking at your property and others will walk away without considering an offer. Think about “how a buyer is viewing my property?”

Step 2: Get a Comparable Market Analysis, “CMA”

Short of hiring a certified appraiser, the only way to get a good idea of your home’s value is to have an experienced agent visit your home and then follow up with a CMA. That is where Bouwman Realty Group can really help. The CMA is used to help evaluate the pricing of your property, comparing your home to similar properties that have recently sold in the area. As professionals we also take into consideration many other variables that are specific to your home and the local market before suggesting a price. The purpose of this is to find the highest price that will still make the home competitive on the open market. It is a tool in determining “what the market will bear”. Remember, you want an experienced honest opinion, not an agent that will suggest a unrealistic high price in order to get your listing only to demand a price reduction in 30 days.

Step 3: Get You Home in Tip Top Shape 

Do you have your home in top-notch condition? Do not hesitate to invest a little “elbow grease,” and money to get a big return on your pricing. Buyers are emotional people too, and often make decisions and form opinions on matters sellers overlook or think are unimportant. Things like small disrepairs, ugly paint or dirty carpet can devalue your home’s value in the buyer’s eyes. A home in tip top shape can demand a higher price on the open market. Bouwman Realty Group can help you sort out what is important to fix or change, we lend an objective experienced eye to the process.

Step 4: Meet with Bouwman Realty Group & Set a Price

The final step is sitting down with your Bouwman Realty Group agent and talking about all the pertinent factors and setting a price. Then….
relax, and we will do our job, market your home and get you top dollar quickly!