Guide · Comparative Market Analysis
You have three realistic options: ask a real estate agent, build one yourself from public sold data, or use an automated CMA tool. Here's the trade-off on each — and how to turn whichever you pick into an actual offer.
Option 1
Most listing agents will prepare a free CMA in 1–3 business days as part of their service — they expect to earn the listing or the buyer-rep agreement in return. This is the highest-quality option because agents have direct MLS access and can see off-market activity. The trade-off is timing and the implicit sales pitch.
Option 2
County recorder sites, Redfin, and Zillow all publish recent sold prices. Pull 3–10 sales within half a mile from the last 90 days, match for beds/baths/sqft, and adjust for differences. This works — but the adjustment math is where most DIY attempts fall apart. Plan on 2–3 hours per property.
Option 3
Tools like OfferEdge handle comp selection, recency weighting, and adjustments automatically — and go a step further by producing a full offer strategy on top of the CMA. You get a defensible price range plus three priced offer tiers in about five minutes, with no MLS credentials required.
Built-in tool
The OfferEdge Offer Calculator runs the CMA workflow for you and outputs three priced strategies — Conservative, Market, and Aggressive — each with a win-probability score and a negotiation script.
Inputs
List price, financing, beds/baths, condition.
Comps
We weight recency, proximity, and similarity.
Output
Three priced tiers + win probability + risk band.
Keep reading
Everything else you need to price, present, and win the offer.
Comp-driven ranges by list price, a reasonable offer chart, and market-temperature tactics.
Read guideStep-by-step: price, terms, contingencies, and the timing that gets accepted.
Read guideWhat a defensible CMA includes and how OfferEdge builds one for any address.
Read guideWhen to offer coverage, how much, and how it compares to appraisal contingencies.
Read guideTypical seller price drops by days on market, price-cut history, and local inventory.
Read guideHow escalation clauses work, sample language, and how to set the cap without overpaying.
Read guideThe 5 core contingencies, typical timelines, and when it's safe to shorten or waive each.
Read guideHow much to offer, where it's held, and exactly when your deposit is refundable.
Read guideWhen a letter helps, what to include, and the Fair Housing risks to avoid.
Read guidePrice, terms, and escalation playbook that wins competitive offers without overpaying.
Read guideHow each tool calculates home values, published accuracy rates, and when to use which.
Read guideComp engine v3, win-probability strategies, branded PDFs, and negotiation scripts.
Read guideFounder and Growth plans — reports, branding, and support at each tier.
Read guideWe use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. You can choose which cookies to allow. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.