Emily Kibler

Mary,
I live and work in your area...my office is located near Manchester and Clarkson across the street from the Daniel Boone Library. We have noticed that thecomparables on sites like this are not as accurate as a CMA prepared by a realtor. Realtors have access to more complete information in the MLS and often we've actually been in the homes that would be comparable and have a good sense of differences in condition etc. If you want a general idea of value, sites like this are OK to obtain a ballpark figure. Just be sure you're comparing apples and apples and not apples and oranges.

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like a professionally prepared CMA. Emily Kibler, 314-749-3333. - Sat May 10 2008, 05:05

Discuss this with your agent. Are you listed with a company and agent that have a sound marketing plan? Ask your agent to review the marketing plan with you. Do the photos on the internet show your home at it's best? Many buyers shop on the internet and decide if they want to see a home or not from the photos. You could ask your agent to show you other properties that are listed in your area in the same price range. Previewing other properties will help you determine how you stack up with the competition. If your photos are good, you have a sound marketing plan and seem to show well compared to the competition...you may just have to be patient or if you're in a hurry, you may decide to lower the price just so you can move on. The unfortunate truth right now is that many properties are taking a long time to sell.

You might also want to take a hard look at how well your home shows. Do you have wallpaper that needs to be removed? You may really like your wallpaper, but chances are most buyers will not. Would your home benefit from staging to help it show better? All of things should be discussed with your agent and your agent should be helping you by making suggestions. - Sat May 10 2008, 04:55

Different leanders have different rules. A "general" guideline is three months. There may be an alternative to foreclosure...talk with your lender and try to work something else out. Some lenders are trying hard to work out alternatives which may range from renegotiating your loan to a possible "short" sale. Foreclosure is the worst possible solution for you because a foreclosure does the most damage to your credit and takes the longest recovery time. A real estate professional can help advise you on the short sale process and provide you with more detailed information. - Fri May 9 2008, 06:21

Yes, it is possible to negotiate with builders. A lot depends on current market conditions, if sales are slow builders are more likely to negotiate. I suggest you work with real estate professional in your area who is familiar with this particular builder and let them negotiate for you and guide you through the building process. Builders have commission for the real estate professional already built into their prices and will pay the agent. You get professional representation and it will cost nothing or very little. The sales agent sitting in a display home is usually an employee working for the builder and representing the interests of the builder. They negotiate contracts all of the time and have a distinct negotiating advantage over a potential homeowner. A real estate professional will work to represent your interests and can negotiate effectively on your behalf and provide you with lots of good advice when it comes to picking out floor plans and options. A professional can help you make choices that will help you realize a healthy gain in equity when it's time to sell. - Fri May 9 2008, 06:10