Pricing a Delaware home
What’s my Delaware home worth? How a comparative market analysis works
Online estimates are a starting point. A comparative market analysis is the number an agent would actually list your home around, with the reasons written down.
What a comparative market analysis is
A comparative market analysis, or CMA, is an opinion of price prepared by a licensed agent. It compares your home with recent sales of similar homes nearby, and with homes for sale and under contract right now, then adjusts for the differences. It is not an appraisal, and ours is free. It is the same work we do before we list a home, so it gives you a number you can plan around.
How it differs from an online estimate
Online estimates work from public records and recent sales. They are quick, and they are a fair place to start. What they can’t see is inside your home: the new heating system, the finished basement, the kitchen you redid last year, or the room that still needs work. They also can’t tell a home that backs to woods from one that backs to a busy road. A CMA is done by a person who can.
What goes into the comparison
We pick sales that truly match your home: similar size, age, style and setting, as close by and as recent as possible. Then we adjust for what is different:
- Square footage, bedrooms and baths
- Garage, basement and lot
- Condition and recent updates
- HOA or community fees
In Delaware we also check the county, because a few towns, like Smyrna and Milford, sit on a county line and taxes follow the address. For homes on a private well and septic system, we note the systems too.
We also look at what you are up against today. Homes for sale nearby, and how long they have been on the market, tell buyers what their choices are. Homes that recently went under contract show what buyers were willing to act on.
What you get
- Recent sales side by side, with the reason behind each adjustment
- A price range you can plan around
- A short list of updates worth doing before a sale, and the ones to skip
- If you are thinking of selling, a simple estimate of what you could walk away with after costs
Your settlement attorney confirms the final figures at closing.
When to ask for one
Ask before you decide to sell, not after. A CMA helps when you are weighing a sale against renting, planning a move in the next year, deciding which projects to finish, or simply curious after seeing a home on your street sell. There is no obligation to list.
Ready for your own numbers? Get your free home value, or read how we sell a home and the Kent County selling timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Is a comparative market analysis the same as an appraisal?
No. A CMA is an opinion of price from a licensed agent, used to plan a sale and set a list price. An appraisal is done by a licensed appraiser, usually ordered by the buyer’s lender after a contract is signed.
How much does a comparative market analysis cost?
Ours is free, with no obligation to list.
How accurate are online home value estimates in Delaware?
They can be close for typical homes with many recent sales nearby, and further off for homes with land, recent updates or unusual features. A CMA accounts for those details.
How long does a CMA take?
Usually about one business day after we have the address and a few details about the home.
Ready to see your numbers?
A free market value and an as-is estimate for your address, from a local agent. No pressure and no obligation.
Related guides
The Key Group of Real Broker LLC · Jordan Brown with Real · Brokerage 855-450-0442 · Equal Housing Opportunity.
Jordan Brown is a licensed real estate agent with Real Broker LLC. If Jordan or a company he is affiliated with makes an offer to buy your home, he will tell you in writing that he is a licensed agent and buying for himself, before you sign anything. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Last updated November 2026. General information only; your settlement attorney or title company will confirm taxes and costs for your sale.