Pricing is the first marketing decision you make, and the one sellers most often get wrong. Price too high and your home sits. Price it right and buyers show up in the first two weeks, when attention is highest. Here is how I think about it with Kern County sellers.

1. Start with recent sales, not listings. What homes are asking tells you what sellers hope for. What homes closed for tells you what buyers paid. Look at sales in your neighborhood from the last few months, close to your size, age and condition.

2. Be honest about condition. A home with an updated kitchen and a newer roof prices differently than one that needs work, even on the same street. Buyers and their lenders notice. So do appraisers.

3. Know that overpricing costs you. The first weeks on the market get the most views and showings. If the price is off, you miss that window, and later price cuts can make buyers wonder what is wrong.

4. Think about your net, not just the price. What matters is what you walk away with after the mortgage payoff, agent fees, closing costs and any repairs. I walk every seller through that number before we list, so there are no surprises.

5. Look at your local market. Bakersfield, Shafter, Delano, Tehachapi and Visalia can each move differently. A pricing plan should come from on-the-ground knowledge of your street, not a number off a website.

6. Plan the marketing with the price. Good photos, a clear online presence and an open house all work better when the price is right to begin with.

Thinking about selling, or just curious what your home is worth? Call or text me at 661-903-3183 or visit www.alexdaredia.com for a free home valuation.

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