The
asking
price
you set
for your
home
significantly
affects
whether
you will
profit
in the
sale,
how much
you will
profit
and how
long
your
home
will sit
on the
market.
Your
real
estate
agent’s
knowledge
of the
overall
market
and
what’s
selling
— or not
selling
— will
be
invaluable
in
helping
you
determine
the
price.
The
objective
is to
find a
price
that the
market
will
bear but
won’t
leave
money on
the
table.
Here are
some
points
to
consider:
-
Time
Time
is
not
on
your
side
when
it
comes
to
real
estate.
Although
many
factors
influence
the
outcome,
perhaps
time
is
the
biggest
determinant
in
whether
or
not
you
see
a
profit
and
how
much
you
profit.
Studies
show
that
the
longer
a
house
stays
on
the
market,
the
less
likely
it
is
to
sell
for
the
original
asking
price.
Therefore,
if
your
goal
is
to
make
money,
think
about
a
price
that
will
encourage
buyer
activity
(read:
fair
market
value).
-
Value
vs.
Cost
Pricing
your
home
to
sell
in a
timely
fashion
requires
some
objectivity.
It’s
important
that
you
not
confuse
value
with
cost
— in
other
words,
how
much
you
value
your
home
versus
what
buyers
are
willing
to
pay
for
it.
Don’t
place
too
much
emphasis
on
home
improvements
when
calculating
your
price,
because
buyers
may
not
share
your
taste.
For
instance,
not
everyone
wants
hardwood
floors
or
granite
countertops.
-
Keep
it
simple
Because
time
is
of
the
essence,
make
it
easy
for
the
buyers.
Remain
flexible
on
when
your
agent
can
schedule
showings.
Also,
avoid
putting
contingencies
on
the
sale.
Though
a
desirable
move-in
date
makes
for
a
smoother
transition
between
homes,
it
could
cause
you
to
lose
the
sale
altogether.
