In today’s market, buyers are more savvy and knowledgeable than ever before. They know they’re in the driver’s seat, and in most cases are willing to wait for the right deal to come along. Today, price sells. Of course, this places a great deal of strain on sellers who need to sell quickly.

As an agent for over 30 years on Kauai, one of the most difficult situations to deal with is a seller who has not yet come to grips with today’s market and the effect it has had on the value of their property. In recent years, we’ve see properties sit on the market for months, or even years in some cases, only to finally sell for a fraction of its former value. This is what we in the business refer to as “chasing the market down.” Listings become stale, which leads to complacency both among buyers and agents. Not a good approach if the necessity is to sell quickly.

One of the more welcome and recent developments in the Kauai real estate market is an awakening of sorts among some sellers. They’ve come to grip with what their property is worth today, price it appropriately for the market and the offers come in. On Kauai, these properties are actually selling!

A client of mine recently approached me about selling her beautiful oceanfront condominium in Poipu. This condo has amazing views with windows galore that bring the ocean right into the living and bedrooms. This is a great Kauai vacation rental or second home, offering swimming pool, tennis court and golf nearby. A few years ago this property would easily have fetched $1,000,000. However in today’s market, I advised a listing price of just under $800,000 to sell it in a reasonable time of about 30 days. Fortunately, the seller took my advice and this amazing oceanfront property received a full price offer within days.

If you are considering selling your property, do your homework. Talk with your agent and ask for recent comparable sales in your neighborhood. In short, you must gain a realistic picture of the current market before decide to list your home for sale. Today, more than ever, price sells. If you need to sell quickly, you must be willing to price your home based on today’s values. If you have further questions regarding oceanfront properties on Kauai, please feel free to contact Heidi at 808-639-0892 or by email.

The Ocean View from Makahuena, Poipu