Don't Spend Precious Time Price Watching When You Could Be Enjoying!

Anybody who has investments knows that once a month they receive a statement informing them exactly how much their portfolio is worth.  These statements tell you very clearly how much you have earned or lost.  With this information, you, your Broker, and the E*Trade baby can decide whether to trade or hold on to what you have. I like having this information, and I am assuming you do too.  It is very black and white.

I mention this because for a lot of people, a house is the biggest investment they make in their lifetime, but the mailman never brings a statement telling you exactly how much it is worth.  Based on how often I am asked about prices, it is obvious that this bothers some people, and rightfully so.  Even if someone has no interest in selling, they still want to know the value of their house.

This curiosity plus the wealth of information on the internet has brought the hobby of “price watching” to the next level.  People are able to hover over their entire neighborhood on the internet and see what homes have sold for and what the estimates are for their homes.  It can be very interesting, but I do caution you from spending too much time price watching.

I too consider a house an investment, but it is not the same as a stock portfolio.  A house is the backdrop to your Christmas card photos and the place that your kids call home.  It is where dinners are made and tables are set.  It is safety from a storm and air conditioning in the summer. It is creaks and squeaks that you don’t even hear because you are so used to them.  A house is where you laugh and cry. 

If you want to sell your house or need to sell your house in the near future, go ahead and price watch.  Better yet, call a real estate agent or an appraiser and have them provide you with an educated and researched estimate of what your house is worth. 

For all of you that are just curious and have no interest in moving, don’t spend your precious time price watching.  The value of your house is easy…it is priceless.

Tell me why you love where you live! I would love to feature your house, street, or neighborhood in my next blog.

Melanie Atkinson is a Westchase area REALTOR with Future Home Realty and can be reached at 813-368-6084 or melanie.atkinson@verizon.net