What Is Your Home Really Worth?

By Rachel Mooney

Rachel has built a reputation for making the complex process of buying and selling homes not only enjoyable but also financially rewarding. Her deep understanding of the local market, combined with her genuine passion for helping families transition through different stages of life, has allowed her to serve hundreds of clients with exceptional care and professionalism.

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you probably have one burning question: “How much is my home really worth?” As a real estate agent in North Metro Atlanta, I’ve seen firsthand how tricky it is to price a property correctly in this market. Let me break it down for you, so you don’t make costly mistakes.

Traditional pricing methods don’t work anymore. In the past, we used something called a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This method relied on finding homes nearby that sold for similar prices to estimate your home’s value. While it was once effective, it doesn’t work anymore. The market has changed and become unpredictable.

Another option is a professional appraisal, where an expert assesses your home’s value based on similar homes that have sold recently. While this can still be useful—especially for unique properties—it’s no longer the most reliable way to price your home. Appraisers typically use data from the past six months or even a year ago. This can lead to inaccurate pricing in a fast-moving market.

Online tools aren’t accurate. You may have turned to websites like Zillow or Realtor.com to get an idea of your home’s value. These online tools use algorithms to estimate prices, but they don’t consider the unique features of your home or neighborhood. They’ve never set foot in your house, don’t know your schools, and certainly don’t understand your local market. Don’t rely on them to set a price for your home.

Why does accurate pricing matter? Here’s a shocking fact: Last year, 75% of realtors didn’t sell a single home. This means many homes were priced by agents who didn’t fully understand pricing. The data shows 74% of homes were listed for the wrong price.

In Forsyth County, homes priced accurately sold in just 16 days. Homes priced incorrectly stayed on the market for 99 days. The difference? Homes not priced right lost sellers an average of 7%. For example, if your home is worth $800,000, that’s a potential loss of $56,000.

In this market, overpricing your home is a huge risk. Sellers who don’t understand pricing lose a lot of money. Price your home wrong, and you could be stuck with it for months. Price it right, and you’re more likely to sell quickly and for top dollar.

For buyers, this market offers great opportunities. Homes priced inaccurately are often up for negotiation. Sellers are motivated to sell and may offer to cover closing costs or reduce the price to get their homes sold.

If you’re thinking about selling or buying a home in Forsyth County, don’t risk inaccurate pricing. I’m here to help you navigate the market and make sure you get the best deal. You can call or text me at 678-804-4733 or email me at rachel@rachelmooney.com. I’ll make sure you don’t leave any money on the table.