Many sellers in Jacksonville think they know what their house is worth but, in many cases, their numbers are off. It’s never as simple as relying on Zillow or your property appraiser to tell you how much to sell your house for. Before you decide whether to sell your home directly and fast for cash or hire a real estate agent, you’ll want to conduct your own research on the true value of your home. There are a few things you can do to get an accurate value of your home in Jacksonville.
Online Calculators
There are many great tools online that help determine the value of your home. It’s important to know that online calculators can only work based on the information you provide, so make sure your facts are accurate. Some reputable sites to use include Chase, Zillow, Redfin, HomeGain, Remax, and Realtor.com. Make sure to look at more than one site, so you can compare the numbers and determine an average. These online calculators and websites are not completely fool-proof, and your value might vary from site to site. The calculators may tell you one thing, but at the end of the day it boils down to supply and demand.
Have a CMA Prepared
A Competitive Market Analysis (CMA), is often prepared by real estate agents in your local area that know the market and location. A CMA will take information from recently sold properties in your area and provide an estimate on what your house will currently sell for. The information can be found on any site that shares MLS data such as Zillow or Trulia. You should look at three similar properties, comparing them to yours, and adding and subtracting for things like:
- Number of rooms
- Lot size
- Square footage
- Upgrades
Average out the sale prices to determine a good base point for the value of your home in Jacksonville. Many agents will provide you with a CMA for free but beware of agents that only want you as a client rather than have your best interest at heart.
Hire an Appraiser
An appraiser can give you a professional, detailed opinion on your home and tell you the fair market value. It typically costs between $200 and $500 but can provide valuable insight into the value of your home. Appraisers help homeowners in Jacksonville know what their property is worth and what challenges they might run into when selling. A professional appraisal can also help if you feel you’re being over-charged for property taxes.
Keep Tabs on the Market
Property values fluctuate daily, weekly, monthly, etc. With a little research and observation, you’ll discover trends about home values over time. For example, your unique property may be worth more in the summer than it is in the winter, or vice versa. While this isn’t true for every property, the season, demand, and availability often play a role in value throughout the year. As a homeowner, it’s important to always keep your eye on the market. This will help you sell at the time of year that will be the most profitable for you so you can sell your house for as much as possible.
Do You Know the Value of Your House in Jacksonville, Florida?
Do you know how to determine the true value of your home in Jacksonville? Whether you’re selling your home or simply looking around, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on the value of your home.
Keep in mind that it is not unheard of for an agent to inflate the asking price in order to get a signed agreement. By knowing the value before going into a sale, you will have the upper hand and will ultimately be able to receive the best outcome when selling your Jacksonville home.
Let us help you determine the true value of your home in Jacksonville! Contact us today for more information on getting a fair offer for your home.