The current state of real estate

July 23, 2008

The Charleston real estate agents are trending towards sending lots of emails to all real estate agents on the Charleston MLS roster. They are touting their listings and I am noticing lots of price reductions, offers of bonuses to other agents and indications that the home is priced below a recent appraisal.

My personal opinion, this stuff doesn’t work to sell a house. After all, in my case, they are winding up in the spam folder of my inbox (and I had to dig them out to write this post). And wouldn’t it be better to just price the home for sale in the first place. Statistics show that homes priced properly from the start will sell for more money than a home that is overpriced and eventually reduced.

As to agent bonuses, I would prefer to see the price lowered by that amount to benefit the buyer. Much as I would like to make a little more commission when selling a home, I won’t be “bribed” by an offer of a bonus.

And finally, an appraisal has no value in resales, what a property might have been worth as a basis for a loan does not mean that a qualified buyer values it the same.

Bottom line, if you want to sell your home in Charleston, price it right from the start. Ask me how I’ll market your home for the best possible price in the shortest possible time and with the least inconvenience to you.

Charleston real estate homes for sale