Choosing the right asking price is one of the biggest decisions you will make when selling your home. At Richard Kendall Estate Agent, we know that everything that follows from photography and marketing to viewings and negotiations is influenced by that first figure. Price your home correctly from the outset and you give yourself the best chance of attracting strong interest from serious buyers.
Overpricing can cost you time
Rightmove’s May 2026 House Price Index showed a clear difference between homes that were priced correctly and those that later needed a reduction. Properties that sold without a price reduction found a buyer in an average of 36 days. Those that needed at least one reduction took an average of 127 days. That is around three extra months on the market. For sellers with an onward purchase in mind, that delay can make a real difference.
Your neighbour’s asking price is not always the answer
One of the most common mistakes we see is comparing a home with properties currently advertised online.
An asking price tells you what somebody hopes to achieve. A sold price tells you what a buyer was actually prepared to pay. When we value a property, we look carefully at recent sales of similar homes nearby, alongside the size, condition, location and current level of buyer demand. With local offices across Wakefield, Ossett, Normanton, Horbury and Pontefract, our valuers spend every day seeing what is selling and what buyers are prepared to pay across our area.
Improvements do not always add pound for pound
A new kitchen, extension, landscaped garden or refurbished bathroom can certainly make your home more appealing. However, spending £20,000 on improvements does not automatically add £20,000 to the value.
Buyers will still compare your home with other properties available locally. That is why our valuers look at the whole property rather than simply adding up what has been spent on it.
Your first few weeks really matter
When your property first comes to the market, it receives the most attention. It appears as a new listing on property websites, reaches buyers already registered with us and gives our team the opportunity to generate interest straight away. If the asking price is too high, that valuable first wave of interest can be missed.
Rightmove reported that almost one in three homes on the market had already reduced their asking price, showing just how important it is to get that first decision right.
Local knowledge makes a difference
At Richard Kendall Estate Agent, we have been helping people sell homes across the local area for nearly 60 years. Our valuation is not simply based on an online estimate.
We look at:
- Recent comparable sales
- Current buyer demand
- Your exact location
- The condition and presentation of your home
- The size and layout
- What similar properties are currently achieving
Our aim is simple. To recommend an asking price that gives your home the strongest possible start and puts you in the best position to achieve a successful sale.
Thinking of selling? Arrange your free market appraisal with Richard Kendall Estate Agent and let our local team give you clear, realistic advice on what your home could achieve.
