List Price: What it is and how to determine

Abraham Smith

List price is a term that refers to the advertised cost of buying your home once you put it on the market. Depending on the current real estate market conditions in your area, your listing price may or may not reflect your final selling price, as we will explore in this article.

The listing price, also known as the listing price, is the price at which you list your home for sale. In other words, it’s the advertised price for your home. Typically, the listing price is determined with the help of a real estate agent or real estate agent and is based on the value of the home and other considerations related to the current real estate climate.

The “listing” part of the term refers to having your home listed in real estate listings and on Multiple Listing Services (MLS).

The listing price is often just a starting point for negotiations and not necessarily the final price at which the home will sell. However, it can have a significant impact on the final selling price.

Setting a good listing price is important because a home with a good price is likely to attract more potential buyers and sell quickly. Determining a good listing price is usually based on a number of important considerations, including the location of your home, the final selling price of comparable homes in your area, and also current market conditions.

Another consideration that comes into play when setting a listing price is the condition of your home. A fixer-upper, for example, probably wouldn’t cost as much as a property that is considered turnkey or move-in ready.

If you’ve invested in upgrades or renovations, that will also factor into the list price for a home. Not all renovations offer the same return on investment as others when it comes to list price calculations. Spending $60,000 on a kitchen remodel doesn’t mean you can automatically add, say, $60,000 to the listing price of your home.

Before investing in renovations, it may be best to consult with a licensed real estate professional to determine which changes and upgrades will add the most value to a home’s pricing. For example, according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, a hardwood floor refinish offers a 147 percent return on investment, while a bathroom renovation offers a 71 percent return.

Even within these parameters, the quality and type of materials used can be more or less relevant to the overall impact on listing price. For example, if installing an expensive marble countertop doesn’t add significant value compared to a solid surface countertop, you may get the most benefit by using a more moderate material instead of a high-end one.

While the listing price is a predetermined starting point for putting your home on the market, the actual selling price can vary widely depending on how the market develops and what price you originally listed the home for. The selling price is the amount that you ultimately agree to sell your home for after negotiating with a potential buyer. It will be listed on the purchase and sale contract that you sign with the buyer and on the closing statement that is issued before the transaction is completed.

To get a rough idea of ​​what the final selling price for your home might be, you can research what other similar homes in your area have been selling for in the last few months.

You can also ask your real estate agent to create a net sheet that will list all of the closing costs associated with a sale — including paying off your mortgage, if you have one — and deduct them from the price of your home. This gives you a feel for the actual net amount you will get when selling your home.

Ultimately, the list price strategy aims for a number that’s as close as possible to what you’re hoping for in a selling price. If your listing price is too high, your home may not sell in time, costing you more in the long run. If you list too low, you may not get a selling price that reflects the true market value of the home. In a buyer’s market, many homes may sell below list price because of higher inventory or lower demand in an area. In a seller’s market, an owner can list a home at a higher price and still end up selling for more than the original listing price.

If a home’s list price does not generate enough listings, the owner can relist the property at a lower price. While the listing price is set at the discretion of the owner, the sale price is fully negotiable and is set between the buyer and seller.

Because of the role list price plays in how quickly a home will sell and in determining the final selling point, it is important that you seek the advice of a knowledgeable professional when setting a list price. A trusted real estate agent who knows the local community and understands current market dynamics can be invaluable in determining the correct listing price for your property.

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