Lisa Johnson Sevajian Vice President

Earlier today I found myself in a pricing discussion with a client that I really like. The good news is they like me too. We get along extremely well and they feel confident knowing that I have spent a great deal of time researching their home and it's actual value.

They agree with me that their actual value is X. No problems there. The problem is they want their list price to be X plus about 12.4 percent more than what it is truly worth.

I have shown them over and over clearly why it is most likely impossible to find a buyer willing AND capable of paying their ideal price and they agree with me yet they want to "test" the market anyway. For those of us in the industry we know it's no longer just about finding a willing buyer. It's more about finding a willing buyer that can actually buy. Once you do you still need the house to appraise if there is a mortgage involved.

This led me to do a quick search to see how many hundreds of articles came up regarding the dangers of overpricing property. Clearly with the higher than expected amount of articles readily available people get it. Overpriced property doesn't sell.

I read the same suggestions over and over again and it left me wondering why in the world someone would run the risk of throwing tens of thousands of actual dollars away in a market that is declining? The only thing I can come up with is ego.

When someone asks you how your home sale is going you tell me which response feels better.
" I researched local agents, found one that I really liked that created a strong marketing campaign and we sold in a week with multiple offers." Sounds good right? When people take my advice this is what they experience.

OR

The market stinks. We have a great house. It's listed about $45,000 higher than most on my street but it will sell eventually. My agent seems to be able to sell everyone elses houses but she just can't get it right when it comes to my house.

Having sold about 140 homes in the past 4 years I can share with you the happiest sellers I have ever met are the sellers who took my advice and priced appropriately.

Those that are convinced one person will come along and pay their price find themselves beaten up by the market, the buyers and the buyers agents. Eventually they either remove their houses from the market preventing them from achieving their goal of moving on or to ultimately reduce to a price that is most likely lower than what I suggested in the first place.

The Andover/North Andover markets are always going to sought after by buyers who understand value. These buyers are educated, market savvy , internet friendly and are no longer swayed by painted wood cabinets with new hardware. They know a well priced property when they see it and they are willing to pay market value.

If you have questions about value in today's market I encourage you to call me.
I will provide you with honest advice and accurate answers.

I was approached this past weekend to be a part of an upcoming story about homeowners in Andover that are searching for their next home in the same community.
The focus of the piece is home owners soon to be home sellers in Andover and their moving process and what it means to them to stay in the town they love so much.

I am always flattered when I receive media inquiries but this one for some reason really made me smile. I find myself having this conversation time and time again whether I'm at a baseball game or out to dinner with my family or just wandering into Starbucks to grab coffee. Real estate in the Andovers is always a topic of conversation among the locals.

There are so many who "get it" they understand that if your going to live North of Boston the Andover and North Andover area is perfect for singles,families,couples from all demographics.
Yet having said that there are still some who ask me why they would want to outside of the city? My first response is VALUE!! Your money goes further in our communities than it does in or just outside of the city. Simply put you can buy more. More house. Better condition. More privacy. More storage. The list could go on for days.

No we aren't 10 minutes to the heart of Boston BUT at times you can make it in 25 which isn't such a bad thing. You can hop on the bus or train and put on your ipod and be in town before you are done with a playlist or you can adopt the suburban lifestyle and walk to work.

So if you are a home owner in the Andover / North Andover community preparing to move in the summer months and are STAYING around the area contact me and help spread the word about why it is that home seekers should really get to quality we enjoy.

If you yourself are considering moving into the Andover or North Andover area contact me with your questions. I am happy to answer any that I can.

You can learn more about me at www.route495.com

Well I am happy to be able to say I live in North Andover Massachusetts and it is an excellent place to live.
The proximity to Boston allows commuters to have a suburban lifestyle but keep their high profile job. The NH border being so close by allows families to save $$$ on taxes by shopping there. The town itself has a newly built youth center that is second to none. The high school is new with a well rounded program covering arts, core curriculum, athletics and computer literacy. The elementary schools have small class sizes and caring teachers.

The parks in town are kid friendly.
You can dine at any one of more than a handful of excellent restaurants Mexican,Indian, Italian.
North Andover residents are ethnically diverse.

Our tax rate is considered low compared to similarly regarded upscale communities. Home values are increasing while other local towns are still declining.
You can go hiking, canoeing, running, biking, swimming etc within a half a mile of each other and then stop at Smolak farm for ice cream or homemade donuts. How can you beat that??
You can be at the beach in 25 minutes. You can be at the ski hill in 10. You can take classes at Merrimack College. The list goes on and on. If you have questions about what it's like to live in the Andovers contact me and I will be happy to answer them if I can.

I am a local Realtor , was raised in town and currently have two children in the school system.

Want to take at homes for sale in the Andovers?
Visit me at route495.com

Best wishes

Lisa Johnson Sevajian
Vice President
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
lisa.johnson@nemoves.com