Today's savvy buyers are very price sensitive. Ask just 1 or 2 percent above market and not only won't you get any offers, you won't even get any lookers.

Yet, getting to the right price remains very hard for most owners. After all, you remember every improvement you put into your home. There was the time you added shelves in the master bedroom closet and spent an entire week painting the kitchen. Then there's the second mortgage that has to be paid off from that refinance. And there's the money you need to get out of the sale to make your next home purchase.

Though difficult to accept, the truth is that it doesn't make any difference how much sweat, tears, money and mortgage you put in your property. It doesn't even matter what you think it should be worth. Your home is only worth what a buyer will pay for it, in other words, what the market will bear. After all, why should a buyer pay more for your home than for a neighbor's home of similar size and condition?

Further, some home buyers are a little skittish of purchasing directly from the seller. So as an inducement, a wise by owner seller will often undercut the market price by 1 percent or so in order to facilitate a quick sale. (After all, you are saving on the agent's commission.)

But, what is a realistic market price for your home?

One way to tell is to ask a real estate agent for a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis). Almost any agent will be happy to create one for you in the hopes that you'll eventually list with him or her.

Perhaps a better way is to do your own CMA. Find out what homes similar to yours have sold for in the last six months and compare them to yours. There are many online sites that may be able to provide you with sales data on comparable homes in your neighborhood including dataquick.com and Owners.com. You may also obtain an electronic appraisal of your home through Owners.com.

The idea is to make a short list of these properties and their features. Then do a strict comparison. Look especially for:

• Square footage
• Number of bathrooms and bedrooms
• Upgraded kitchens and/or baths
• Condition of home and landscaping

Often this information will accompany the location and price. But if not, you may be able to drive by the home (since it's close by). If you're gregarious, you might knock on the door and ask the new owner if you could see the home. Explain that you're planning on selling your house down the street and want to get a better idea of neighborhood prices. Many owners are happy to show off their new property.

Getting to the right price is critical, not only to finding a buyer, but to satisfying yourself that you're not getting cheated by asking too little.