Forrestfield 
If you have started house hunting and checking out online listings, you may have noticed that not all properties are listed with an asking price, even if they are selling by private treaty.
This may feel frustrating when you have a budget, but the agent has usually taken this approach with a strategy in mind. If you see a home without a price or price guide, it is probably for one of the following reasons:
To start a conversation
One of the key reasons for a home being advertised without a price is to generate curiosity from potential buyers. If you see a home listed without a specific figure, contact the agent and ask how much it’s worth. They may give you a number immediately, or let you know exactly why they haven’t put a price on the ad.
It won’t hurt to enquire. Even if the home is not within your budget, you may just meet the agent who helps you find something that is.
To find out how much a buyer will pay
Sometimes it’s difficult to put a precise value on a home. If a place is unique or unusual, it’s not always easy to know what people will pay for it.
By not naming a price, the seller and their agent can see what buyers think about the value and let the market set the price.
With this being said, real estate agents can usually give accurate values based on factors such as size, number of bedrooms and the condition of the property. They may have a ballpark figure in mind but be interested to hear feedback from buyers to confirm their suspicions.
To help the seller with their expectations
Everyone is different and it can sometimes be difficult for an agent and a seller to agree on the value of a property.
A home that’s advertised without a price may be the agent’s way of saying to the seller, “Let’s see”. They may set a ballpark figure so the property will come up when people search for it but not be 100 per cent clear about the asking price. They will gather feedback from potential buyers as evidence of what the home may be worth.
It’s a seller’s market
Thanks to the constantly fluctuating condition of the real estate market, sellers might choose not to list a price in case they get it wrong.
In areas experiencing high demand, average home prices can jump overnight. If you don’t see a price, it may be because the market is moving too fast to keep up and the seller doesn’t want to offer their home at too low a number.
What to do when a property is advertised with no price
If you are interested in a home that’s advertised without a price, call or email the agent.
Property exchanges always start with conversations, so start asking questions and don’t fail to consider a listing just because it doesn’t have a price tag attached. You never know what the outcome could be.
