Certainly, paying a professional to conduct an appraisal is the best way to go about calculating the true value of your house. But you may not be at that point yet, and so the expense wouldn’t be justified. Maybe you’re just now in the early stages of thinking about selling your house. In that case, there are still some things you can do on your own to arrive at a pretty good idea of the value of your house.
Use an Appraiser’s Eye
It helps to understand the criteria appraisers use to determine the fair market value of a house. Primarily, they look at the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, total inside square footage, lot size, the age of the property, HVAC system, and overall condition. Other chief considerations are the location-related matters like crime rate, local amenities, and access to transportation. Using an appraiser’s eye for calculating the true value of your house is a good way to start.
Look at Neighboring Sales
Next, just as an agent would in running comps, take a look at comparable home sales in the neighborhood. There a number of online resources you can use to check the sale prices of comparable houses with respect to size, age, number of rooms, construction type, and features. In addition, you’ll want to consider only homes that have sold within the last few months.
Look on Zillow with Care
Zillow can be a great tool to help you determine the value of your home, but keep in mind that Zillow will value two houses the same regardless of the shape of the home. For instance, Zillow will see two homes side by side with the same square footage and the same number bedrooms and baths and compare each the same to others in the neighborhood. However, if you live in an intown neighborhood like Decatur, Cascade, East Lake, East Atlanta, or Belvedere Park, you know that one home could be completely remodeled and the next could well, needs some work. Keep this in mind when using Zillow and look at Zillow as a starting point and not a determination of the value of your home.
Determine the PPSF
Another good tactic for calculating the true value of your house is to try to determine the price per square foot (PPSF). This, too, involves comparing your house to similar houses that have sold in the neighborhood.
So when doing your own comparable market analysis, be sure to note the square footage of the houses you’re considering. Then divide the sale price of the house by total square footage to arrive at the PPSF. The next step is to add up the several PPSFs you’ve calculated and then divide by the total number of PPSFs you added together, which will yield the average PPSF. All you have to do then id multiply the square footage of your house by that average PPSF. You will then have a general idea or your house’s fair market value.
Consider Special Features/Qualities
But in calculating the true value of your house don’t neglect to take into consideration the special features and qualities your house may possess. These can sometimes increase the value significantly (or, in some cases, lower it).
You will certainly want to take into account any recent upgrades – for example, new tiles and fixtures in the bathroom, new appliances in the kitchen, a new roof, or new siding. Or if your house has a large screened-in deck or is close to a good school, these features can add to the value. The comparable value analysis and the average PPSF are just starting points or base prices. Be sure to consider as well what your house has to offer beyond the mere basics in comparable houses.
And then there’s the other side of the coin, too. If your house isn’t in as good a shape as those you’re comparing against, it will be worthless. So be sure to be brutally honest with yourself.
These are all good tactics for calculating the true value of your house. Of course, you could always have a real estate agent do a comparable market analysis, but you can get fairly close to that on your own.
IF YOU THINK YOU’RE READY TO SELL AND WOULD LIKE TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT VALUING YOUR HOUSE, JUST GIVE US A CALL AT 404-299-7100 OR Fill Out This Form
Kevin Polite
Solid Source Realty, Inc.
404-299-7100
Other Articles from Kevin Polite.
What is Market Value vs. Assessed Value
Remodeling Projects That Will Boost Your Home’s Value
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ABOUT
Kevin Polite is a Solid Source Realty, Inc. Realtor and the exclusive agent for HausZwei Homes. He specializes in Decatur 30032 and Decatur 30030 including the neighborhoods of Midway Woods, Belvedere Park, White Oak Hills and Meadowbrook Acres. He is also very active in East Atlanta and Atlanta homes in the fast appreciating areas of West End and Westside Trail along the Atlanta Beltline. You will receive personal attention throughout your transactionas he guides you through the home buying or selling process.Call Kevin Today and find out why so many consider him the best agent they have ever worked with.
HausZwei Homes refreshes and re-energizes homes for resale and for rent mainly in the Decatur area including Meadowbrook Acres, Greater Towers, Belvedere Park, White Oak Hills, East Lake, East Lake Terrace and Midway Woods. We have future projects slated for East Atlanta, Sylvan Hills, the Cascade area and along the Westside Trail along the Atlanta Beltline. You won’t find beige and boring in our homes. We maintain the traditional 1950’s ranch style of the home, but add a clean, modern and up-to-date touch to them. We love brick homes and are not afraid of adding color to them. Our kitchens feature European designed IKEA cabinets. You’ll notice the attention to detail in both our homes for sale and our homes for rent. Many of homes are a short drive away from Downtown Decatur and its many shops and restaurants. Others are close to East Atlanta Village. We will soon start our remodels in Sylvan Hills, the Cascade area and Atlanta homes in the fast appreciating areas of West End and Westside Trail along the Atlanta Beltline.
We give back to the community. We are an active sponsor of Friends of Dearborn Park, a DeKalb park located in Midway Woods in Decatur. We support teachers at Peachcrest Elementary School. We have donated time and money to Towers Action Group (TAG). There are many dogs that need adopting and DeKalb Animal Services is busting at the seams with pets that need a loving home.
For more information on these groups go to www.facebook.com/FriendsofDearbornPark and www.facebook.com/TowersActionGroup and dekalbanimalservices.com/adopt-a-pet/dogs-for-adoption
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This is taken from our trip to Palm Springs during a moped tour of Mid Century Modern homes.
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Our first remodel that started it all. Loved it so much I live in it.
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From my Atlanta Journal-Constitution Real Estate Advertising days. Remember the Sunday Homefinder.
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This is my Ralphie. This 112lb lovable Black Lab mix pretty much runs the family. We adopted Ralphie from Lifeline. There are many dogs that need a loving home. http://dekalbanimalservices.com/adopt-a-pet/dogs-for-adoption
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GladysKravitz is typical of the nosy neighbor who’ll wonder how you sold your home so fast!
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Kevin Polite will help you find that Mid Century Modern Home
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Dearborn Park is located in Decatur in the Midway Woods neighborhood. I live in and have sold many homes in this neighborhood.
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HasuZwei Homes gives back to the community. Dearborn Park tree planting in which we donated all of the trees, shrubs and materials. See more photos at www.facebook.com/friendsofdearbornpark
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More volunteer work. This is with Towers Action Group (TAG). We donated paint to help this business on Memorial Drive in the Meadowbrook Acres and Belvedere Park neighborhood. www.facebook.com/TowersActionGroup/
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This is a photo from Mrs. Hines class at Peachcrest Elementary in the DeKalb County School District in Decatur 30032. HausZwei Homes donated money so that the kids in her 2nd grade would have materials for their art project. We believe strongly in support the art in education.
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Many of the homes we sell in Decatur, GA are near Downtown Decatur.
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East Atlanta is a hot area with tons of activity in the Village (EAV) including the annual East Atlanta Beer Fest.
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The Beautiful Restaurant in Cascade Atlanta has been serving great food for many years. It’s one of the many attractions in the Cascade area.
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Busy Bee Café on MLK Dr. is another fixture in Westside Atlanta. Their Fried chicken has been featured on many Food Network shows. Shown here is their collard greens, black eyed peas, mac n cheese all washed down w the uptown (half lemonade half sweet tea) woo wee. I won’t say which of the two ‘tween Busy Bee and The Beautiful is my favorite. It’s too much fun deciding which.
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Even Bernie Sanders loves him some Busy Bee southern cookin’ Soul Food.
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Sylvan Hills has many Craftsmen homes and Sylvan Middle School is widely respected and the teachers go the extra mile.
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Westside Atlanta Beltline. Are you looking for a home near the Beltine? There is a program available to help you down payment assistance. Please call me Kevin Polite, 404-299-7100 for more information.
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Did you inherit a home, about to go into foreclosure or have a home that just wouldn’t be profitable if you sold it with a real estate agent? Being a REALTOR®I understand both side of the equation. We have partnered with and recommend the following if you are in one of these situations:
WWW.WEBUYHOUSESINDECATUR.COM
WWW.SYLVANHILLS.CASH
WWW.WEBUYHOUSESCASCADEATLANTA.COM
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