Ask an expert: How do I price my home?

Q: I'm about to put my home on the market. What factors should I consider when determining how much to list it for?

A: The ten main factors that influence the value of your home are:

1. Interest rates: The lower the interest rates, the more buyers can afford to pay.
2. Supply and demand: Are 'for sale' signs springing up all around the neighborhood? If there are a number of homes similar to yours on the market, consider them your competition. What can you do to set your home apart and make it desirable for a majority of potential buyers? On the other hand, a small number for sale can result in competing bids that send prices up.
3. Economy: Is the economy improving or sliding? This will affect buyers' confidence in their ability to manage debt.
4. Location: Are you in a desirable neighborhood, with key services such as schools, doctors, and shopping nearby? Are there factors that make your neighborhood less desirable, such as environmental issues or traffic problems?
5. Condition: Have you updated features and kept up with repairs? Is the house clean? Does your house make a good first impression? (This is called "curb appeal.") How much can you reasonably do to fix it up for sale?
6. Timing: Do you need to sell quickly or can you choose your time?
7. Size: Will your home appeal to a growing family or to those who are downsizing?
8. Amenities: Does it include features that are popular, such as low-maintenance landscaping or granite counter tops?
9. Terms: How flexible are you with respect to the sale? What's excluded? If you are downsizing and have substantial equity, have you considered offering financing? Carrying financing can make your home very appealing and help you sell for the maximum price.
10. Attitude: How committed are you to selling now?

To determine your home's value:

• Research the housing market in your area. Browse the Internet, local newspaper ads and free 'For Sale' publications. Visit open houses in your neighborhood to get a general idea of the current market.
• Get a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a REALTOR? A CMA compares homes that are currently available and those that have sold in your neighborhood in the past year. The more similar the features -- square footage, number of rooms, lot size, etc. -- and the more recent the data, the more accurately it reflects the current market. Don't confuse listing price with sold price -- the most important factor in the CMA. REALTORs?usually do CMAs for home sellers at no charge.
• Have your home appraised. An appraisal estimates your home's market value. A lender will require an appraisal to finance a prospective buyer. For residential properties, a professional appraiser will either compare your home to similar properties that have sold in the area or, for new properties, estimate how much it would cost to replace the existing structure if it were destroyed.

To maximize your home's value:

• Eliminate clutter and clean. The more you can clean your home and keep it tidy, the easier it will be to show, and the more buyers who will see it at its best.
• Paint and repair. First impressions count. Improve the appearance of your home with a coat of fresh paint. Take the time to fix any dripping taps, broken tiles or cracked widow panes.
• Consider hiring a home stager. A professional home stager can help you enhance the selling potential of your home by showing you how to arrange your home to appeal to buyers. Whether it's rearranging furniture, minimizing belongings, lending you accessories or renting furniture, they work with you to show off your home's best features. Many will also coordinate hiring professionals to do cleaning, painting and minor repairs.

What's the right price?

Generally, aim for your list price to be within 2.5 to 5 percent of what you expect the selling price to be. Pricing strategies vary with the market. If it's sluggish, price lower. If it's active, price close to your expected selling price to stimulate competing offers.

Remember, your home is easiest to sell when it's first listed. During the first couple of weeks, you'll get a flurry of interest on the part of agents eager to preview it for their clients. If you price it too high and they can't sell it, your home may linger on the market and become old news. Prospective buyers may think you're becoming desperate and lower their offers. As a result, you could end up having to accept less than you normally would have received.