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Sellers Beware

You have contacted a Realtor to list your home in New Bern, and the agent indicates that you might get more for your home than comparable homes on the market. After all, it just takes finding one person who is willing to pay your price--right?

Some Realtors approach a listing appointment as if they are bidding for your home. Sellers often start out with an unrealistic opinion of their home's value, and there is often a strong temptation to go with a person who says what you want to hear. A good Realtor will back up their opinion of your home's value with hard data. The agent should give you information about homes that are currently on the market for sale, and recent sale prices of similar properties. The most heroic marketing efforts won't work on a property that is overpriced. Even if you find a buyer who is willing to pay more than your home is worth, the sale could fall apart when the appraisal comes in lower than the agreed-upon price. Listen to everything, but be careful!