Avoid agents who try to ‘buy’ your listing by overestimating your property’s value. Select an agent who tells you the truth.

Some agents involve themselves in a bidding war in an effort to impress a prospective seller with the amount of money they could receive from a sale. And sellers who accept such ‘guestimates’ of their property’s worth are being ill served.

Promises to sell homes for unrealistically high prices fall flat under the clear light of day as prospective buyers compare homes and see for themselves that a property is overpriced.

An overpriced property quickly becomes stale as prospective buyers look past it for homes that offer a genuine price that people are willing to pay. Overpricing signals that the seller is not serious about selling and has little understanding of the current market.

Buyers will look past such a property with an eye for fresh listings whose prices realistically reflect local sales. Buyers have become expert at comparison shopping and will respect a sale offered at fair market price. The mantra is: price it correctly and it will sell.

It does not matter whether the property is being offered as an outright sale at an advertised price or via the auction method. The same no-nonsense standard applies.

A quality real estate agent will provide a prospective vendor with a list of recent sales as a guide to current value. Together, the agent and the vendor, armed with the truth can work toward getting the seller the optimum price using quality marketing as the key.