The right price attracts the right buyers quickly and brings the strongest offers. Here is how professionals arrive at it, and how to use the different numbers you will see.
Comparable sales: the foundation
A comparative market analysis looks at homes similar to yours that recently sold nearby: size, condition, lot, age, location and features. Adjustments are made for differences, so the result reflects what buyers have actually paid for homes like yours.
Online estimates
Automated estimates are a handy starting point, and they can be off for a specific home because they cannot see condition, updates, views or layout. Treat them as one input, and ask for a professional analysis of your exact property.
Appraisals
A licensed appraiser gives a formal opinion of value, usually ordered by a lender for a buyer's loan. It is a required step in many sales, so it helps to price with recent comparable sales in mind.
Reading the market
Your price plan should reflect the current balance between buyers and sellers. The weekly market report for your ZIP shows how many homes are for sale, how quickly they go under contract and how often prices are adjusted.
Setting the strategy
- List at market value to draw the widest pool of buyers early, when interest is highest.
- Price with a plan for what you will do if showings are slow, so you can adjust with confidence.
- Highlight what is special. Views, upgrades and location deserve a clear place in the marketing.
Get your number
Rudy provides a free written valuation with the comparable sales behind it, so you can see exactly how the price was reached.
A valuation is an opinion based on available data, not a guarantee of sale price.
More in Seller Guides
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- Seller Disclosures: The Forms, Made Simple — The California disclosure forms sellers complete, and how to fill them out with confidence.
- What You Keep: Costs, Net Proceeds and Tax Basics — The costs of selling, how to estimate your net, and the federal home-sale exclusion explained.
- From Listing to Closing: The Timeline — A typical week-by-week schedule for selling a home, from preparation to closing day.
- Selling and Buying Together: Contingencies, Bridge Options and Rent-Backs — How to coordinate a sale and a purchase so your move fits together smoothly.
- Comparing Offers: Price, Terms and Certainty — How to read offers side by side and pick the one most likely to close on your terms.
- Special Situations: Probate and Trust Sales, Tenants, ADUs and More — Guidance for estate and trust sales, homes with tenants, accessory dwelling units and other special cases.
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Programs, rules and limits change, so confirm details with your lender, escrow officer, attorney or tax professional.