Hi folks,

Real estate agents have a strong motivation to quote high when assessing the value of a house for sale, they want the listing! (In fact, the more professional agents don’t do this because it wastes everyone’s time and often leads to a no-sale stalemate.) Sadly, the more unrealistic vendors are about their own property, the more likely it is that agents will feel the need to up the potential selling price. But there are things home sellers can do to encourage frank dealings and make sure agents don’t over-quote to get your house for sale.

Firstly, don’t put words into their mouth. Don’t tell agents you’re after a certain figure and that you won’t sell for less. Unless your house is seriously unusual, experienced and professional agents can assess the potential selling price very accurately to within a few per cent of what a property will sell for. It is important to encourage them to tell you what they think, not parrot back your own wishful thinking, wishful thinking that isn’t based on any real research into property values in the area. After all, agents base their appraisals on the experience of years of selling similar properties under various market conditions and they have statistical data bases at their fingertips. If you go with the agent who parrots back your wishful thinking, you may be in for months of buyer apathy.

Secondly, listen carefully to their lowest figure and don’t try to push them up, it stands to reason they will go as high as they can because they know they’re in competition with other agents for the listing. If you’ve done your homework and you are truly objective you will know in your heart that they are right. Resist the temptation to place a dollar value on the emotional attachment you have to that deciduous tree in full autumn glory (because you planted it 10 years ago and watched it grow and don’t want to leave it behind, especially since the family cat is also buried there) or those paved areas while at the same time overlooking the inconvenience of the steep driveway (youput up with it all these years).

Most home owners don’t realise the emotional weight they expect their home to translate into dollar terms, just as they think their own children are the most beautiful, the smartest, the best at sport. But they need to remember that if they appear emotional and unrealistic, agents will simply reflect back to them what they want to hear. It’s ironic that when the reality check of buyer indifference comes along, many home owners ultimately blame agents for overpricing their homes when they themselves created the competitive environment that caused the asking price to be set so high.