Why overpricing may leave you out of pocket

15 Sep 2013

As a seller, it is tempting to accept the highest estate agent’s valuation you receive. However, there are sound reasons why you should avoid overpricing your home initially, as overpriced homes in Sunderland often end up selling for less than they otherwise might have.

First, buyers buy by comparison. Why should they buy your house if it is more expensive than a similar alternative? This simply does not make sense and your property is unlikely to sell until such a time as any competing homes have sold. By that time your house may have suffered overexposure and be “going stale” on the market.

Second, buyer activity is highest when property is new on the market. If your price prevents buyers from seeing the house, you will have missed this opportunity and may have to wait some time before a suitable buyer is found. Competition between buyers drives up your price, whereas time on the market drives it down.

Sellers often say “But we can always take an offer!” The problem with this is that if fewer buyers see your house, the chance of an offer being received is significantly reduced. The wrong price also attracts the wrong buyers, who have high expectations and are therefore unlikely to offer in any event. People tend to purchase a property at the top of their price range; so your likely buyer pool is people looking in a lower price range than your property, not a higher one. So don’t scare away the right buyers!

Intense buyer activity in the early days of marketing is the key to achieving the highest price for your property, and our job is to help you stimulate such activity.

So be realistic. Be competitive. Quote the right price, stick to it, and you should readily secure the highest price for your home.