One of the most contentious issues when negotiating a listing for sale with any realtor is the listing price, the 'asking' price. Sellers are naturally keen to get as much as possible for their home, and their immediate response is to go with the realtor that gives them the highest valuation of their property.

My approach to pricing a home for sale is simple. I will recommend a listing price that I believe will be most likely to generate a sale at the best price available. This is an 'art' and there is a subjective element in the calculations that builds on my experience and knowledge of the current market strength.

I use two sources of data to establish the right listing price for a home - recent closed and pending sales of similar homes on the same community, and comparable homes currently listed for sale.

There may be adjustments to the calculations if either the subject home or the comparable home has extra features - a spa, a south-facing pool deck, two master suites, etc. I incorporate these adjustments as necessary into my final pricing recommendation.

Other realtors may suggest a higher price level to persuade you to list with them, in which case you are likely to find them recommending a price reduction when the home later proves to attract few if any showings. Others will suggest a lower price, in the hope that the seller will not be aware of the true value and they can get a quick sale at minimum effort.

I consider both of these approaches to be unhelpful to the seller - their motivation lies in the advantage to the realtor, not to the seller. I don't work like that. My recommended price will be what I believe is in the best interests of the seller.