Pricing your home to sell....

I recieve a call inviting me to come over and visit about "selling their home".  This is the beginning of the journey for a seller.  You are going to interview a realtor for "what they will do to sell your home in the current marketplace".   You are interested in one thing---how much can I get for my home?  You have been looking at signs in the nieghborhood and what other homes are asking for in pricing, you have also been in some of those and believe your home is larger, better decorated, maybe has nicer upgrades, etc.  So, you are thinking of asking a bit more than what you see out there on the signs............Also, you have heard from one of your friends in the neighborhood of what the Jones' house sold for and that is better than you had thought so you are feeling pretty good about now....    Okay, here is what I need you to consider....  As a realtor I will compile the sales in your neighborhood from the last 6 months and get an average selling price for your specific area.  The list prices are just that, asking prices, the sales price is the number we look at when placing the list price on your home.  Next to that, is the condition of and staging of your home.   If you live in our area, there are 40 or so model homes open every day for the public to view.  Most buyers will at some point walk through one or more of them as a comparison for any resale home they are looking at.   For this reason, you have to look and feel and smell as close as possible to a model home.   Sound tough, yes it can be, but it doesn't have to be, if you go with a realtor that understands this, then they will price it according to the market in your given area and make certain your home is staged and 'model ready'.  One more thing---get the house ready and sparkling before you invite one guest inside---that guest could be your buyer!!